Four newspaper clippings ralting to Louise and Arthur Thompson, along with a photograph of Mrs Dinah Speller being given away by her eldest son, at her wedding to Mr Thomas Wayman.

Two of the small clippings are short congratulations for the Thompson's 75th [1979] and 76th [1980] wedding anniversaries, the largest clipping labelled 'Contentment is their secret', celebrates their 74th wedding anniversary [1978] with a photograph of the couple above. The final clipping announced Louise Thompson's passing, aged 97, 1980.

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'Contentment is their secret'

Smiles tell the story of nearly three-quarters of a century of happy marriage for Frank and Louise Thompson, pictured above.

For on Monday the couple celbrated their 74th wedding anniversary over a glass of champagne at Greenways old people's home, St John's estate, Colchester.

With them to celebrate the occasion were Alice and Dolf Smithers, daughter and son-in-law and one of seven grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The couple recall that when they got married in 1904 Edward VII was king. Arthur Balfour was Prime Minister and the trams had not yet started running in Colchester.

Frank's first wage was 18 shillings for a 60-hour-week at Dobbies Nurseries at Marks Tey, where he worked for 60 years before retiring at 80.

What is it that has kept the couple together through all those years of retirement? "Content for life and keeping your mind occupied," said Frank.

'Oldest Resident'

Marks Tey's oldest resident Mrs Louise Thompson has died, aged 97. Born in Copford, Mrs Thompson spent her married life in Marks Tey, mainly at her home in London Road, but in later years at an old people's bungalow in Wilson Lane.

Her husband Frank, whom she married 76 years ago, survives Mrs Thompson. During their life in Marks Tey, Mr Thompson worked for the former firm of seedgrowers, Dobbie and Co, of Edinburgh.

Throughout her life Mrs Thompson was a staunch churchgoer, and attended Marks Tey Parish Church for many years. She also leaves five daughters and a son.