Hospital care led to couple’s golden years

Monica, his wife of 50 years, was among the nurses who had cared for him and they had “clicked” during his stay.

The couple, who now live in Marcroft Place, Leamington, will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary tomorrow (Saturday).

Mr Burden said: “I was due to go away for national service after I had the operation and we just clicked.

“We were engaged three months later and then I went away to Germany.

“We married in 1962 after I came home - I had taken leave a couple of times and we wrote to one another but we hadn’t seen a lot of each other.

“Monica was a great nurse - she has looked after me for 50 years.”

The couple were married at Warwick Registry Office on July 21, 1962.

At the time trainee nurses were not allowed to get married so Mrs Burden had to wait before she could return to the profession.

She later worked at the special care baby unit at Warneford Hospital for 17 years.

Mr Burden, a plumber by trade, spent 33 years working at the former Potterton factory in Warwick.

The couple have four children and nine grandchildren.