Eric Jones was working on the roof of a new-build house when he spotted someone who would change his life. Nearly 70 years later, his still married to the young woman he struck up a conversation with that day in the seaside village of Abersoch.
His wife Mair was just a teenager that day and, despite now being 85, has never forgotten it. "I was living in one of the nearby houses and Eric spotted me while working on the roof of the new properties," she said.
"I was working at the St Tudwal's Hotel at the time. Despite our long work hours and Eric living in Rhiw, we managed to strike up a conversation that led to us becoming a couple.", reports North Wales Live.
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The pair exchanged vows at Abersoch's Capel y Graig on March 7, 1959. A newspaper clipping preserved in the family Bible reveals they were wed by Rev Idan Williams.
Mair's sister Beti served as her bridesmaid, while Eric's brother Gareth stood as his best man.
Myfanwy Wynn and Elizabeth Ann, the nieces of the bride and groom, gave them two silver horseshoes as they left the chapel. The newlyweds had a reception at the Vaynol Hotel in Abersoch, followed by a honeymoon in London.
Upon their return to Abersoch, Eric worked as a builder and plasterer, also serving over 20 years as a firefighter at the village's fire station.
Mair cherished her garden deeply at their bungalow in Abersoch. "I loved tending to the flowers and seeing them grow and bloom," she explained. Eric would keep up with the lawns and potter in their greenhouse until "it blew away in a gale".
The couple were blessed with three children, daughter Beryl and sons Glyn and Harri, in addition to five grandchildren. As they looked back on their lives together, they said: "It's about being there for each other through the good and bad and never take each other for granted that's very important."
Mair said: "We've looked after each other over the years and although our health now is not as good as it has been, we've been quite lucky really. We have a loving family around us, for which we are very grateful."
"Both Beryl and Glyn live quite nearby and we see them regularly. Harri lives in Aberystwyth but he keeps in close contact with us."
For their special day, the couple opened cards, looked at old photos and had a lovely afternoon tea with their family at Pendine Park's Bryn Seiont Newydd care home, Caernarfon. They moved there from Abersoch a few years ago and are happy they've been able to stay together.
The Gwynedd care home looks after people living with dementia. Mair and Eric now enjoy doing arts and crafts, visits from pet therapy dogs and talking about their life and marriage together.
Bryn Seiont Newydd manager Sandra Evans said: "We are privileged to be able to look after Eric and Mair in their twilight years. Their love and continued devotion to each other is an inspiration to all of us."
