Secret of 80 years together: agree to disagree

Linda and Burt met as teenagers when they were just strollin' through the park on a Sunday afternoon...80 years ago.

They met when she was 13 and he was 15, marrying nine years later, in 1930.

Neither has ever had eyes for anyone else, and today Bert and Linda Hopkins of Mt Maunganui celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary.

But if there is a recipe for a long and happy marriage, this sprightly couple insist they don't know what it is.

"We just live together like a comfortable pair of old slippers," said 97-year-old Mrs Hopkins with a twinkle in her eye.

Mr Hopkins, who turns 100 in December, added: "She was the one. I was very faithful. It never occurred to me any other way. We've had a great life."

They have their arguments. "I am not a 'Yes dear, no dear' sort of woman. I stand up for myself," said Mrs Hopkins.

"I say what I think and he says what he thinks."

Mr Hopkins agreed they both have strong opinions.

"We agree to disagree," he said, diplomatically.

Both from Essex, they met on a Sunday afternoon more than 80 years ago in a London park. Each was with two friends.

Linda, a somewhat forward 13-year-old, passed Bert a note - the contents of which neither can now recall - and told him she was 15.

"From then on she was my girl."

The teens saw each other often at church or sports. He was a keen footballer and cricketer; she swam, enjoyed tennis and gymnastics.

"We had a long courtship because we didn't want to rough it. We wanted to save up for a nice new home, and we did," said Mr Hopkins.

His wife added: "We were between wars and it was a much slower, safer kind of life in those days."

A year into the marriage, their only child, Shirley, was born. Mother and daughter lived in the safety of the Devon countryside during World War 11 while Mr Hopkins worked in a large ammunition factory in London, visiting them at weekends.

They emigrated to New Zealand in 1948, settling in Takapuna, where Mr Hopkins and two partners formed an electrical supply company.

Having retired to Mt Maunganui nine years ago, the couple are still self-sufficient. They have two granddaughters in their 40s and two great grandsons in their 20s.

If the Hopkins' offer no advice on relationships, they agree that "people give up too easily on marriage".