A devoted husband wore his 60-year-old wedding suit to celebrate his diamond anniversary – in the hope of bringing back memories for his dementia-suffering wife.
While most people’s wedding day is a memory they will cherish forever, Malcolm Cousins was worried his wife June’s illness would stop her from remembering the happy day.
So on the 60th anniversary of their wedding on February 25, he donned his decades-old suit in the hope of jogging her memory.
Thankfully, not only did the suit still fit perfectly, but June recognised the outfit instantly.
“The main reason I wore the suit was to jog June’s memory,” Mr Cousins said. “And she recognised it straight away, which was fantastic.
“I don’t really know why I kept it, it just seems to have followed me around all these years from house to house.”
They celebrated the milestone with a party at Sutton Village Care Home with cake and champagne.
The couple, both 80, met when they were just seven years old in their hometown of Hull, East Yorks.
“When we started playing in the street, we already knew we would be together,” Mr Cousins said.
They began dating when they were 15 years old, and had a low-key wedding ceremony in 1956 at a register office in Hull.
“We didn’t even really have a do afterwards,” Mr Cousins said. “We certainly didn’t have a honeymoon and travel round the world like they do these days.”
To mark their 60th anniversary, the couple also received a special message of congratulation from the Queen.
“It was such a nice thing to get and it made our day,” Mr Cousins said.
Mr Cousins worked as a sugar boiler for a sweet makers in Hull, which created humbugs, candy sticks and toffees.
After a few years he moved into the building trade, where he helped construct a number of Hull’s schools.
Mrs Cousins worked as a cleaner but also had her hands full bringing up five sons and two daughters.
As well as seven children, the couple also have 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
The care home made sure it was a special day for the couple.
Manager Yvonne Moses said: “They have had champagne and cake, along with entertainment. We are sure they have had a great day.
“We have also been celebrating a birthday, so we had quite a party.”
And Mr Cousins offered his tip for a long and happy marriage: “The secret is to both give a little rather than resist, and stick it out.
“You have to work it out together.
“My advice to young couples today is just to stick it out.
“We all have our arguments, but you have to work at the relationship.”
