Love is in the air

Betty's Club, which supports those with dementia and their families, celebrates Valentine's Day

George and Belinda tell me they were married 63 years ago.

"We were invited to the same party, in a house in Essex, and there was my wife to be, on the opposite side of the room," says George, "I can tell you now what she was wearing, a green dress, off the shoulder.  And I announced very firmly to myself that I must make sure I marry her one day!"

"A green organza dress," adds Belinda.

"It took us 8 years to get around to it but we made it in the end," adds George.  I ask what they remember from their wedding day, "A big blank!" Jokes Belinda, "No, it was wonderful."

George and Belinda on their wedding day

The couple are celebrating Valentine's Day at Betty's Club in Burnham Market, a group they joined after Belinda was diagnosed with dementia.

Today isn't about the syndrome, it's about celebrating love and loved ones.  And the key to a long, happy marriage the pair tell me is,  "Hard work, patience, laughter."

There's a love tree decorated with heart shaped messages, memories from when the couples first met, one reads, "What did I think of him when I first saw him 56 years ago? I thought WOW!"

Sarah Reed, who started the support group a few years ago, says, "What we've done is we've asked people to bring in their wedding photographs, and then we have people's memories of courting on the love tree, and we also have a jar of messages.  

"We've been singing love songs this past week and today we'll hopefully have a dance."

Pam, whose husband Graham has dementia, describes the club as "Fantastic, for the carer and the person who has dementia, it puts some normality into life, these people are a new gang."

She married Graham in 1971, "My mother's zip broke, so we were nearly 30/40 minutes late, we had to sew her back in. It was just such a joyous day, really lovely."  

Her husband, who's chatting to some other members, smiles at her from across the room.

Graham and Pam

Before the singing I quickly chat to Peter and Shirley, who married in 1952.

"Next month, it'll be 75 years. He's looking at me thinking, what?! My father was a photographer and he took the photos, it was still ration time really."

Peter adds, "I still fancy her now."

Peter and Shirley 

The music starts and the group begin to sing 'Love Me Tender' by Elvis.

I see Phil take Judy's hand and sing, "For my darling, I love you, and I always will."

Phil and Judy

The singing continues, I'll admit at one point I get emotional.  

There's such a great amount of love in the room, it's heartwarming - and coupled with the emotive words of the love songs, I'm not the only one whose eyes get watery.

Happy Valentine's Day!