In an age when marriage is ignored in favor of “hook-ups”, “partnerships” and “friends-with-benefits”, it’s heartening to see how one couple, at least, started young and over fifty years later, are still making it work:
Devoted couple Harry and Sandra Redknapp admit they love each no less than they did after exchanging vows more than half-a-century ago.
Redknapp was a promising young footballer with West Ham United when he met apprentice hairdresser Sandra Young on a rowdy dancefloor above Stratford’s legendary Two Puddings pub in 1968.
Months later they were married, with Sandra supporting her husband as he finished his football career with defunct north American club Seattle Sounders before establishing himself as a much-loved coach and manager.
My Murkin Readers will probably be going “Harry who?” but the fact of the matter is that Harry is as famous Over There as Bill Parcells, Phil Jackson or Tom Landry ever were Over Here.
I know that to people of his generation, such loyalty, devotion and fidelity might seem nothing special, but here’s the difference: his and Sandra’s marriage has been a celebrity one, subject to all the scrutiny and limelight that only the awful British press can bring.
Stories of his devotion to Sandra are legion (some of which are contained in the above article), but it should be known that Harry would have been a juicy target for all the fame groupies (step forward, Ulrika Jonsson) for whom his notch on their much-chiseled bedposts would have been a noteworthy one.
But he never strayed, and as he’s got older, that loyalty has made Harry Redknapp all the more beloved to the people of Britain since his retirement from football management.
Well played, mate.
Married once, 38 years so far, but I (we) are not famous. For people with core values, being famous is not a thing.
My parents married in 1962, were still married and happy together (of course not without the occasional bumps in the road) when my mother died in 2014. Dad kept his wedding ring on him until he died in 2016, we spread his ashes with those of mom as per his wishes.
For people of their generation (and mine) marriage meant for life, make it work. It wasn’t until the 1980s and ’90s that it became more of a contract for financial benefits, to be disbanded when no longer convenient.
My maternal Grandparents lasted 54 years. My parents were separated by the time I was three or five I believe. So far me and the missus have lasted 20 years.
It’s far easier to change jobs, careers, houses and such. It’s a huge pain to change spouses so get it right the first time and most of your problems will be mitigated or go away.
JQ
I was married to my Late Wife for 34 hard, hard years. A few months after we were married she was diagnosed with a debilitating lung disease. It grew progressively worse and in her last 13 years, she was a bed bound invalid on O2, a feeding tube and a permanent IV port. She spent 3 years waiting for a lung transplant she would never get and died a few months after I retired from the Navy.
I have been married to my Last Wife for 7 years on Dec 26. There’s been a few rough spots, but we both know it takes work to make it work.
Most kids today though, don’t have staying power for anything. My stepson buys Plan B kits like they’re stocking stuffers. And the girls are happy to have them.😕
1964, Englebert Humperdinck married actress and singer Patricia Healey.
They remained together until her death in 2021… nearly six decades.
.
According to rumors, he popularized several songs based on their relationship, including THE LAST WALTZ.