By BRIDGET COOK
JEAN Perry had her eye on her husband Ken from the moment he moved into her court when they were teenagers about 60 years ago.
And it didn’t take long for Ms Perry to catch the eye of her future husband, with Mr Perry soon asking her on a date to go the pictures.
Their romance blossomed from that date and tomorrow (Friday) the Cranbourne East couple will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary.
They will celebrate the emerald anniversary with a party at their home with family and friends.
The couple met when Mr Perry and his family moved into Ms Perry’s close in Nottingham, England, when she was 15.
“It didn’t take long for us to get chatting and then he took me on a date to the pictures,” Ms Perry said.
“He was courting me for five years, as you weren’t allowed to live together in those days.”
On 29 March 1958, the couple married in England and moved in together.
While living in England, they had three children – Mark and twins Nigel and Norman.
The pair now has eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
In 1992, the pair immigrated to Australia to follow their twin sons and settled in the Cranbourne area.
Ms Perry got involved with the Cranbourne Arthritis Support Group and has since become one of the class leaders.
Mr Perry is a member of the Cranbourne Bowling Club, where he used to play pennant bowls.
Ms Perry said the key to their long-lasting marriage was always sorting out their problems.
“If you have a problem, you have to talk it out,” she said.
“You have to talk it out and not ignore each other.”
Ms Perry said her husband wasn’t one to openly display his love and affection, but showed it through his actions instead.
“I know he loves me by how much he does for me,” she said.
“No matter what I ask, he always does it and would do anything for me.”
Ms Perry said she was looking forward to their anniversary celebrations tomorrow, surrounded by all their loved ones.
