Couple who met at dance in Huntingdon celebrate 65 years of marriage
John and Peggy Sturman celebrate 65 years of marriage. PHOTO: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher
A couple who met at a youth dance in Huntingdon as teenagers and later ran a cub pack together have celebrated 65 years of marriage.
John and Peggy Sturman celebrate 65 years of marriage. PHOTO: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher
Grandparents John and Peggy Sturman, were both 17 when they met at the dance in Huntingdon, in 1946.
They married five years later on a snowy day in Peterborough, on March 26, at a ceremony attended by family, friends and members of 1st Hunts Hartford Boy Scouts Group – where Mr Sturman was a scout master.
The couple ran a cub pack together in Hartford, Huntingdon, later bringing up their daughter Susan and disabled son Kim, who died at the age of 13. They later became foster parents and adopted Melanie, 42.
Mr Sturman, 87, a former electrician and plumber, said: “It is remarkable how time has flown by.
“It snowed all day at our wedding in Peterborough – our daughter Melanie managed to get a copy of the Scottish Daily Mail from the same day and all the stories tell of the snow that fell.”
Former nursery assistant, Mrs Sturman, 87, said: “We did short term fostering, then for Melanie’s 18th birthday we asked her what she wanted as a present and she said to be adopted – which was just lovely.”
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The couple moved to Kessingland, Suffolk, 27 years ago.
They continue to lead active lives, playing table tennis and attending folk dances.
They received an anniversary card from the Queen to mark their Blue Sapphire wedding anniversary.
They also celebrated with a family meal with their two daughters and two grandsons - James, 25, and Matthew, 24.
“The secret to a long marriage is to work hard at it and to not give up,” Mr Sturman revealed. “Discuss things together and do what the wife tells you!”
Mrs Sturman added: “We enjoy keeping active and do as many things together as we can which is helped by the fact we both like the same things.”
