Love birds celebrate over 60 years of wedded bliss at Cornwallis Court

A local couple have celebrated their 63^rd wedding anniversary with the help of staff, fellow residents and family at Cornwallis Court in Bury St Edmunds.

Trevor and Norah Ball were married on 23 August 1958 in Barking, Essex. Norah was active in her church group and met Trevor whilst on a silent retreat. However, she broke the silence when she agreed to go on a walk with Trevor.

Trevor was an RAF engineer with 263 squadron, working on Meteor aircraft, at the end of WWII before meeting Norah. He later qualified as a Chartered Accountant and started his own company, working from his home with Norah in Essex and, later, from their home in Norfolk. Norah trained as a teacher at St Osyths Training College in Clacton. She became a secondary school teacher and taught Needlework at several schools.

The couple had two children, Sarah and Clare, who are now both married, and Trevor and Norah have two grandchildren, Amy and Rose. After marriage, Norah focused on caring for her family.

They became part of the Norwich Cathedral community when they moved to Norfolk. Norah performed voluntary work such as becoming the Girl Guide Commissioner for Essex, a cathedral tour guide and a flower arranger for Norwich Cathedral. She even toured HRH Prince Edward and his wife Sophie around the cathedral. Trevor was also a voluntary Treasurer of the Cathedral Refectory Funds, Norfolk Arts Association and the Norfolk Age Concern. To recognise their voluntary work, Her Majesty the Queen invited them to attend Royal Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace and in Sandringham.

Trevor and Norah enjoyed family holidays around the English coast including Cornwall and Devon, and further afield to Canary Islands, Menorca, Corfu, Malta and Sorrento. When asked about the secret to their long and happy marriage, Trevor said:

We’ve always looked after each other, no matter what.

Denise O’Brien, Home Manager at Cornwallis Court, said:

Trevor and Norah are a fantastic couple to have at Cornwallis Court and we thoroughly enjoyed helping them mark their anniversary with fellow residents, staff and family at the care home.