Teary reunion for care home couple married for over 60 years

A HEART-WARMING reunion of a Bolton couple married for over 60 years has taken place at the care home where they both now live – a year after last seeing each other.

Stanley and Mavis Harbour were last together in February 2020 due to Covid-19 related visitation restrictions at Lever Edge Care Home, in Great Lever.

Stanley, 83, moved into the home in September 2019 after the progression of his dementia, and Mavis, 81, had been unable to visit for a year.

She finally decided to join him as a resident at the care home after falling unwell herself and, after a 14-day isolation period, the couple enjoyed a teary reunion.

Stanley, who presented his wife with a bouquet of flowers, said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw Mavis. It was like a dream.”

Mavis said: “I was very pleased to see Stanley. I’ve missed him so much that I got overwhelmed and just cried. I’m so happy. I never want to be away from him again. I feel lost without him.”

The couple were treated to a romantic candle-lit meal in the care home’s Hernandez Bar. They were served tomato soup followed by meat and potato pie with vegetables, and a chocolate cake for dessert, alongside flutes of prosecco and a box of chocolates.

It was love at first sight for Mavis when she first saw Stanley walking on the road on their way home from work in the late 1950s.

She said: “I was on my way home from Holts Hoisery, where I worked, when I saw Stanley. I asked my Dad who he was and was told me was a joiner. I knew straight away I was going to marry him.”

They married at St George the Martyr Church, Roseberry Street, Bolton, in the early 1960s and lived together on Minnie Street, in Daubhill, later moving to Longfield Road.

The couple have two sons, Peter and Neil, as well as three grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Mavis said: “We’ve had a very good marriage. The key to a good marriage is compromise. Always talk things through. We had our first child together at 23 and have lived very happily.”

Lisa Martin, home manager at Lever Edge Care Home, said: “We were so pleased to reunite Stanley and Mavis. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room when she was finally able to see her beloved Stanley again.”