If you want to know what the secret to a long-lasting marriage is just ask Cheryl and Malcolm Clague who celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on October 16. Cheryl and Malcolm, who are aged 91 and 93 respectively, agree the longevity of their relationship is down to a few key factors – communicating openly, supporting and encouraging each other, and having different interests. “An open line of communication.
I think that’s been the big thing. If I had problems, I could talk it over with Malcolm. We would support each other in everything we were doing.
I think that’s been a great binding together,” Cheryl says. “I know what Cheryl’s going to say before she says it,” Malcolm says. “We’re able to finish each other’s sentences most of the time, but we try not to do that.
” For most of their working lives, they owned and ran a farm near Wellsford together. After retiring, the couple moved to Algies Bay and later Warkworth. Malcolm was ordained as a clergyman while Cheryl joined the Warkworth Museum as archivist, later becoming curator for three years, before moving on to become head of the display department.
“We have different interests, but then we like so many things the same. We’ve had wonderful holidays together, we love music and poetry, and we enjoyed going to dances when we were younger,” Cheryl says. “Now we enjoy the view together.
And enjoy the place here at Summerset Falls. It’s just lovely and it’s comfortable.” Originally, Ma.