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Queen's Platinum Jubilee means double celebration for Swanley care home couple marking 70th wedding anniversary

A couple will have a double platinum party today, as they celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary together and the Queen's Jubilee.

Avid Royalists Geoffrey and Helen Isteed, who named their daughter Elizabeth, married on May 31, 1952 and will commemorate their special day with family and friends.

Geoffrey and Helen Isteed are still very much in love. Picture: Elizabeth Abrahams
Geoffrey and Helen Isteed are still very much in love. Picture: Elizabeth Abrahams

The Isteeds live in Emerson Grange care home, in Swanley, and love to spend time together.

Helen was only 19 when she married Geoffrey, who was 23 at the time.

Now aged 89 and 93, the couple have two children – Elizabeth and Matthew – as well as three grandchildren.

Elizabeth said her parents don't remember exactly where they met, but it was most likely at a dance hall, one of the couple's favourite places to go.

The 59-year-old fondly recalls her parents' relationship when she was growing up as one filled with love, trust, and laughter.

Geoffrey and Helen Isteed, on their wedding day. Picture: Elizabeth Abrahams
Geoffrey and Helen Isteed, on their wedding day. Picture: Elizabeth Abrahams
Geoffrey and Helen Isteed on their wedding day. Picture: Elizabeth Abrahams
Geoffrey and Helen Isteed on their wedding day. Picture: Elizabeth Abrahams

She said: "Their relationship was not sort of lovey-dovey over the years, but it's been a great relationship. My brother and I had a wonderful childhood, taking wonderful holidays abroad.

"My parents have always laughed a lot about things. Of course every couple have rows and stuff, but they're very much close to each other, especially now at the home. They hold hands all the time.

"Just the other day, for instance, when we were walking down to the dining room, mum gave dad a kiss on the lips before they even went into lunch. It was just so sweet."

Helen and Geoffrey have always been enormous fans of the Royal Family, as Elizabeth recalls watching many of the iconic events during her childhood.

She said: "My parents and I have always been sort of extreme Royalists, and we still are now. They've always loved the Queen and supported her, Prince Philip and all of the Royal Family. I remember watching Diana and Charles's wedding, as well as Kate and William's, which was lovely.

"When I spoke to mum and dad not long ago, they said they'd watched Prince Philip's funeral and that it was very sad."

Geoffrey and Helen Isteed share a kiss. Picture: Elizabeth Abrahams
Geoffrey and Helen Isteed share a kiss. Picture: Elizabeth Abrahams

The Isteeds will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary in great style, as staff and residents will host a party to celebrate the couple's love, as well as the upcoming Platinum Jubilee.

The home's entertainment manager and carer Geoff Pride was in charge of the party planning. He prepared a slideshow filled with pictures of the couple from over the years, as well as music from the 1950s and ordered some jubilee-themed biscuits.

Helen and Geoffrey both have dementia, so Elizabeth hopes today's party will help them re-live and remember their long and loving marriage.

She said: "They don't really know of the coincidence with the Queen's Jubilee, or they keep forgetting.

"When I last visited them I told them they've been married for 70 years and they just couldn't believe it.

"I believe they think they've just met, and haven't felt time going by. So I'm sure they'll be completely amused by everything. Hopefully, the pictures will ring bells with them and they'll be able to remember things."

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