Published at 08:25, Friday, 29 January 2010

Cumbrian couple Tom and Alma Moscrop have just celebrated an incredible 70 years of marriage.

Alma and Tom Moscrop

• Video: Tom and Alma Moscrop on married life

They reached their platinum anniversary last weekend and look forward to another celebration on Sunday - Tom’s 93rd birthday.

The couple, who live at Ryeclose Farm, Ruleholme, near Brampton, celebrated their special day with a family party.

Mr Moscrop said: “I’m originally from Orton Rigg and I met Alma at Baldwinholme in 1939.”

Mrs Moscrop, 88, said: “I’d gone to look after my aunt who had a poisoned arm and I met Tom because he lived across the road.”

The couple married in 1940 at St Michael’s Church in Dean, near Cockermouth and moved to Ryeclose Farm in 1954.

Mrs Moscrop, who is originally from Ullock, near Cockermouth, said: “It was a really snowy day – the weather was terrible and there were snow drifts.”

Mr Moscrop, a former farmer, said: “There was no big flash celebration as we didn’t have any money in those days. The world has really changed. I think it’s worse now though.”

The couple have one son, four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, aged from four to 24.

They had a family party in their bungalow last Friday and received 22 cards, an iced cake and lots of flowers. They also received their second congratulations card from the Queen – the first one which they received when they celebrated their diamond anniversary,
hangs in a frame on their living room wall.

Mr Moscrop said: “I love Alma, she’s a grand lass.”

Mrs Moscrop said: “It’s give and take that has got us this far – that’s the secret to a happy marriage.”

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk