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2 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, September 22, 1987 97 year old lovebirds mark 75th anniversary by Cathy Olliffe In this age of divorce and separa- tion, wedding anniversaries take on a special kind of significance. Especially milestones such as golden (50th) and even silver (25th anniversaries. With so many pro- blems, with so many distractions, it is almost a wonder that couples stay together as long as they do. And there's no greater wonder than the story of Maude and Arthur Edmunds, a pair of 97 year old lovebirds, who celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on September 21. Seventy-seven years ago, near Berkshire, England, Arthur Ed- Meeting for tourism (From page 1) of the Region's major tourist attrac- tions, Cullen Gardens in Whitby, in- dicated that in 1986, visitors to Cullen Gardens spent $11 million during their stay in Durham on everything from entertainment, food, accommodation, to gasoline and souvenirs. Mr. Olive said the Regional coun- cil has taken the attitude that tourism must be supported in Durham "any way possible." But he stressed that support from the other two levels of government is just as important. A TADR steering committee, 'Wheatsheaf made up of people directly involv- ed in tourism, has been working over the summer to come up with strategies that will promote and enhance the industry. It is these strategies that will be prevented at the meeting October 8 at the Holiday Inn in Oshawa. The Association is also hoping that the October 8 meeting will generate new members in one of four categories: profit, non-profit (museums, galleries, libraries etc.,) corporate and individual. There is no fee to attend this meeting. An ex- ecutive for the Association will be selected at the meeting. F253 YS a \ Ah? § af AD) | ay, A FAN # NR, AY R ihe L D - ho S08 de an S 143 PERRY ST., PORT PERRY 985-3942 The Cafe is Open at 8:30 AM! Enjoy a hearty man's breakfast OR breakfast continental style. Come and try our new Fall Lunch Menu. Monday to Thursday and Saturday ... 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Friday ... 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM Sunday ... 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM The cate 1s available after hours for groups of 30 or less. Call us to discuss a menu and other details. I Te hag 0 HEAT rr MIRROR R-4 TE LAT a Se 985-3942 Svatem 6 2 curved wood solarium. EXTENSIVE SELECTION OF WOOD & ALUMINUM PRODUCTS COMPLETE INSTALLATION BY FACTORY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS OR KIT FORM WITH VIDEO FOUR SEASONS Design & Remodeling Centers 08 SR ®) CALL FOR FREE COLOR CATALOGUE AND ESTIMATE 655-4714 o. 1-800-263-3754 munds started courtin' the fair Maude Vincent. Arthur, who came from a family with four boys and three girls, had a sister who chummed with Maude, a 20 year old department store employee with a large family of her own (six girls and one boy). "I was friendly with his sister," Maude recalled, in an interview: with the Star in the Port Perry Com- munity Nursing Home, Monday afternoon. "The three of us used to go out for walks." Young Maude took quite a fancy to Arthur, a tall lad, six months her junior, who delivered coal for a liv- ing. His sister senses a possible romance, and one day, left the two to go for a walk on their own. That was Maude's chance, and as she says, "I just hung onto him." The courtship lasted two years, and on Saturday, September 21, 1912, Maude and Arthur tied the knot in a small ceremony. Arthur's father gave the bride away, and both the bride and groom had sisters act as bridesmaids. There wasn't a lot of money to go around in those days, so in 1923 the young couple left for Canada, hop- ing for a change. "We thought there might be bet- ter opportunities here, but then the depression was going on and we fell right into it,"' Arthur said. They came immediately to Toron- to, where Arthur took a job land- scaping with a fellow named Weall. The business prospered and is now known as Weall & Cullen, home to Cullen Gardens in Whitby. "We're the ones who started all that," Arthur said proudly. But after a while he had a chance to work with a private firm, and he took it. From that time on, Arthur worked hard in the gardening business, and didn't retire until he was 86 years old. His son, Fred (who lives in Port Perry), said, "The only reason he quit was because he thought I might retire ahead of him." While Maude didn't actually hold down a job after she was married, she was kept more than busy with her home in Scarborough and rais- ing their family, two boys, Fred and Reggie. The still-happily married couple now have two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren as well. These days, their family is spread all over the continent, so it was a real surprise when their relatives (some living in the United States), visited on Sunday. "We had an awful surprise yester- day!" Arthur said, meaning an "awful nice" surprise, when the Ed- munds' niece and her husband drop- ped by, all the way from the U.S. You're never too old for romance. Arthur and Maude Edmunds proved that on Monday when they stole a smooch during a party at Port Perry's Community Nursing Home. The party was held in honour of their anniversary -- an unbelievable 75 years together. See story for details. Not to mention the visit of a nephew and his wife, from England, who visited on Monday. Heartfelt hello's, congratulations and tears were everywhere as Ar- thur and Maude greeted people they hadn't seen for some time. Obviously, they are a much loved couple, with many friends. Many of their visitors and friends are new, since Arthur and Maude moved to Port Perry from Scar- borough about a year ago. That was when Arthur, now in a wheelchair, moved into the nursing home. Maude followed, and lives in the Villa. It was their son Fred who talked them into coming to Port Perry, and they're happy they made the decision. "Nothing's too much for them to do for us," Maude said about the staff of the Villa and nursing home. "They're very nice people." She had more praise for both places, and for the town of Port Perry, while talking with Glenn Cochrane, reporter for CFTO-TV, who was interviewing the couple for the Heartbeat segment of the sta- tion's newscast. They seemed flattered by all the . attention, and invited Mr. Cochrane and his cameraman to stay for cake and punch. Both Mr. Cochrane and the Port Perry Star had similar questions for the Edmunds, including what ad- vice they have for younger couples just beginning their married lives. "Not to get in debt," was Arthur's firm reply. Maude agreed. ""We never got in- to debt. What we couldn't afford, we didn't get." They also claim they never argue. "Being able to live peacefully," is an important point, Maude said: They hate arguments, and feel the same way about divorce and separation. "They argue, and the next thing you know, one of them is out the door," Arthur said. Their'son, Fred, says his parents have lived moderate lives, and can't remember an occasion when they did argue. "Oh, I argued," Arthur admitted. "But not with the wife." When asked about romance, Maude bowed her head, and even appeared to blush. Just a little. So her husband took over the con- versation, looked at his wife and said, "We still love each other, don't we?" Maude looked up at Arthur and nodded. He grinned, still gazing at his wife of 75 years, and said, 'You bet we do." 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