{"id":474105,"date":"2026-03-22T21:22:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T21:22:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=474105"},"modified":"2026-03-25T14:26:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T14:26:43","slug":"east-dulwich-councillor-and-his-wife-celebrate-60-years-of-marriage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/dulwich\/east-dulwich-councillor-and-his-wife-celebrate-60-years-of-marriage\/","title":{"rendered":"East Dulwich councillor and his wife celebrate 60 years of marriage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>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 \u2018great friends\u2019.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"747\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Charlie-sue-and-family-747x560.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-474122\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Charlie-sue-and-family-747x560.jpeg 747w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Charlie-sue-and-family-373x280.jpeg 373w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Charlie-sue-and-family-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Charlie-sue-and-family-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Charlie-sue-and-family-195x146.jpeg 195w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Charlie-sue-and-family-1320x990.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Charlie-sue-and-family-750x563.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Charlie-sue-and-family-1140x855.jpeg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Charlie-sue-and-family.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Charlie and Sue with their family at PizzaArte restaurant in Forest Hill. Credit: Charlie Smith<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"420\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/processed-E5160820-1C76-438E-BEA6-B6B8621EEAE9-420x560.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-474332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/processed-E5160820-1C76-438E-BEA6-B6B8621EEAE9-420x560.jpeg 420w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/processed-E5160820-1C76-438E-BEA6-B6B8621EEAE9-210x280.jpeg 210w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/processed-E5160820-1C76-438E-BEA6-B6B8621EEAE9-768x1023.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/processed-E5160820-1C76-438E-BEA6-B6B8621EEAE9-1153x1536.jpeg 1153w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/processed-E5160820-1C76-438E-BEA6-B6B8621EEAE9-1537x2048.jpeg 1537w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/processed-E5160820-1C76-438E-BEA6-B6B8621EEAE9-110x146.jpeg 110w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/processed-E5160820-1C76-438E-BEA6-B6B8621EEAE9-1320x1759.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/processed-E5160820-1C76-438E-BEA6-B6B8621EEAE9-750x999.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/processed-E5160820-1C76-438E-BEA6-B6B8621EEAE9-1140x1519.jpeg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/processed-E5160820-1C76-438E-BEA6-B6B8621EEAE9.jpeg 1816w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Charlie and Sue in the 1960s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>When asked the secret to a long marriage, Charlie said: \u201cOur personalities go well together \u2013 she\u2019s calm, considerate, and very wise. She\u2019s put me in my place more than once.\u201d<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMTg4MTgzMjM0MiIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWNvbnRlbnQgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCIgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OiBhdXRvO21hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogYXV0bzt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBjZW50ZXI7Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLTJ4MScpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICAgICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Sue said: \u201cI didn\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reflecting on their family, he said: \u201cOur 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.\u201d<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjU1Nzc3NjEyMCIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1OSBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1OSI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Jyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Charlie has long been passionate about local politics, serving as a councillor since 2002 and as Mayor of Southwark for the 2017 \u2013 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This May, Charlie will be hoping to retain his seat as a Labour councillor for the Goose Green ward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He also ran twice as a Labour candidate for Parliament, in Westminster and Chichester, although he was unsuccessful on both occasions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He said: \u201cIt\u2019s a privilege to serve the lovely people of Goose Green. It\u2019s very village-like and has residents from different backgrounds and classes. Everyone rubs together very well and helps each other.\u201d<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjI4OTc2MjQwMiIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1LTEwIHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCcpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICA8L2Rpdj4=<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Charlie looks forward to the pair\u2019s 70th Wedding Anniversary and hopes to have a holiday with Sue this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"l6rYazIxSYM0rRpWPfJ1m37R7BMCwopO8dCZe2c50NZ4WSkqqyhJKeAEonQ6GE5Ux\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"Xn24Mv4ZSV\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/news\/news-plus\/this-97-year-old-took-part-in-radical-peckham-experiment\/\">This 97-year-old took part in the radical Peckham Experiment<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;This 97-year-old took part in the radical Peckham Experiment&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/news\/news-plus\/this-97-year-old-took-part-in-radical-peckham-experiment\/embed\/#?secret=wvfpy60KkK#?secret=Xn24Mv4ZSV\" data-secret=\"Xn24Mv4ZSV\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 \u2018great friends\u2019. 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. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19233,"featured_media":474331,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","show_comment_section":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"The couple met when they were just 14 years old "},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"84"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[7375,84,13539,13602],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-474105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-dulwich","category-featured","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19233"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=474105"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":475186,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474105\/revisions\/475186"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/474331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=474105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=474105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=474105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}