Childhood sweethearts Charlie Smith and his wife Sue celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary last week and say the secret to a long and happy marriage is remaining ‘great friends’.
Charlie, 77, who has been a Labour councillor for 16 years in East Dulwich, met Sue at a youth club when the pair were just 14. They married three years later, on 11 March 1966 at Caxton Hall registry office in Victoria, aged 17.
They moved to East Dulwich thirty years ago and are now proud parents of three daughters and five grandchildren. Last Saturday, the couple had a small celebration with their family in a local restaurant to mark the milestone anniversary.
When asked the secret to a long marriage, Charlie said: “Our personalities go well together – she’s calm, considerate, and very wise. She’s put me in my place more than once.”
Sue said: “I didn’t marry him for his looks, but because he was a nice bloke. I think our marriage has endured because we rarely argued about money, not that we are well off. But we remain great friends.”
Reflecting on their family, he said: “Our daughters all went to university and were the first in our family to do so. Each generation tries to improve itself and I think we succeeded with that.”
Charlie has long been passionate about local politics, serving as a councillor since 2002 and as Mayor of Southwark for the 2017 – 2018.
This May, Charlie will be hoping to retain his seat as a Labour councillor for the Goose Green ward.
He also ran twice as a Labour candidate for Parliament, in Westminster and Chichester, although he was unsuccessful on both occasions.
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He said: “It’s a privilege to serve the lovely people of Goose Green. It’s very village-like and has residents from different backgrounds and classes. Everyone rubs together very well and helps each other.”
Charlie looks forward to the pair’s 70th Wedding Anniversary and hopes to have a holiday with Sue this year.
