Diamond couple met by chance during hospital stay

A couple who met at Huntingdon County Hospital more than half a century ago have this summer celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

John and Marina Curtis, who live in Chatteris, first met while Mr Curtis was recovering from an accident in 1952, with his future wife visiting his bedside every week before they married four years later.

“I was recovering from a bad motorcycle accident and was there for about seven months,” he told The Hunts Post.

“It was probably a month into my recovery in January 1952 she came. She would visit on Thursdays.

“Her grandfather was in the next bed to me for a little bit and she came to visit him and then when he went home I asked her if she could still visit me. I had my 21st birthday in hospital.”

After Mr Curtis was discharged, the couple continued to see each other before marrying at the St Peter and St Paul church in Alconbury 60 years ago, and stayed in the village until their retirement.

There, they welcomed two daughters – Sue and Julie – and are now grandparents to five children and three great-grandchildren.

While Mr Curtis worked in agriculture, his wife spent 25 years at the same hospital they met in, and then at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, as a seamstress.

“I don’t think there is any secret to a long and happy marriage,” Mr Curits said.

“You’ve just got to get on with life and if you have your ups and downs, you just get over them; that’s it.”

The couple also received a card from the Queen, which Mr Curtis said was “very nice”.