A very special Rhos on sea anniversary couple shared their secret to a long and happy marriage.
Joseph and Irene Morton, 98 and 96, celebrated 75 years of matrimony on August 31, a date Joseph said he would never forget.
Mrs Irene Morton was only 15 when she met Joseph, who was 17, in Manchester while they worked together at a print works.
The young sweethearts began courting and went on rambling trips until they married in 1935.
Joseph, who rose to become the managing director of Buckley and Brand printers, still has the ticket stubs from Desert Song, the first show they saw together.
Mr Morton, a motoring enthusiast who also enjoyed playing the piano and the organ, said: “Irene is the boss of me. That’s the secret of our marriage!”
Mrs Morton said: “We’re very happy although he likes to do the talking.”
The couple, who also lived in Penrhyn Bay for 13 years, said they moved to North Wales because they loved the area.
She said: “We always used to come here on holiday. We always thought we’d come and live here. We wanted somewhere lively and we really love it. We’ve always liked the sea side and we are pleased with the views.”
The couple had many hobbies, including tennis, golfing and dancing, and had a keen interest in musical theatre.
In their earlier days, they used to ride on a tandem bicycle until the birth of their first child, when Joseph got a side car fitted to the bike to accommodate the baby.
The Mortons had two children, Michael who died in an accident a number of years ago and Diane, who now lives in Eastbourne.
They have three “lovely” grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
The couple said that their friends and neighbours were wonderful. Daughter Diane visits them every month without fail, and her childhood friend Pauline also pays regular visits.
Mr Morton said that he could not pick the single happiest memory of his marriage as the couple still enjoyed spending time together.
Mrs Morton added that the true secret to a happy marriage was love.
She said: “We’ve always loved each other and we have always done what we can to help each other. I’ve always said we were meant to be together.”