After celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary on September 6th, Martin and Valerie Naughton are as in love as they were on their wedding day back in 1963.
The happy couple, who are residents at Balhousie Stormont Lodge care home in Blairgowrie, are both living with dementia and, sadly, their memories are fading, but their love for each other is as strong as ever and beautiful to see.
Martin (86) and Valerie (83) met in Essex in the early sixties through mutual friends on a double date. They fell in love and married in Hornchurch. From Kilkenny in Ireland originally, Martin was a National Hunt Jockey before working for a US travel company which took him to America many times. Martin and Valerie also ran a pub for a number of years.
The couple have two daughters, Siobhan and Fiona, and now also have four grandchildren. While Valerie was a homemaker throughout her life, she had a passion for clothes and worked in many clothing stores and even did a stint working in a ski resort at Glenshee.
Then, 23 years ago, they decided to move to Blairgowrie, Valerie’s home town and where she was born. Their love of the outdoors and the countryside was calling to them.
Since then, Martin pursued another passion, painting, and worked as a wildlife artist. As they have gotten older, their devotion to each other has endured. “We’ve been very lucky, we’ve had a very happy time,” says Valerie.
To celebrate 60 years, the couple were treated to afternoon tea in the home which they thoroughly enjoyed.
When asked what the secret is to being married for 60 years? A very emphatic “love” from Martin. Valerie first moved into Stormont Lodge in 2021 with Martin joining her this summer, which has made them very happy. “That’s all that matters, just being together,” says Martin. “To be in love, all the very best things in life.”
Happy anniversary to this very special couple.
