Local care home names lounge after Ray and Win Booth to mark their 80th wedding anniversary

Ray and Win Booth, residents at Bupa Norewood Lodge Care Home in Portishead, have been honoured with the surprise naming of a new lounge in their honour, marking their remarkable 80th wedding anniversary this month.

At 102 and 101 years old respectively, the couple's extraordinary love story and enduring devotion have inspired the care home to commemorate the occasion with a special tribute.

The couple celebrated their platinum anniversary with a fabulous cream tea put on by the team at Norewood Lodge – complete with cucumber sandwiches at their request. Residents, staff, daughter Caroline and Councillor Paul Gardner, Chair of the Portishead Town Council, joined them for the festivities.

The care home's Chef, Nick Thick, recreated their two-tier wedding cake featuring white icing and red roses, while a pianist played all their favourite tunes. The room was decorated with bunting, balloons, fairy lights and cards, and the local team from Help for Heroes kindly donated 80 balloons and a certificate to mark the occasion.

The highlight of the day saw Ray and Win cut the ribbon to officially unveil the newly named 'Winray Lounge'. The space has been completely revamped to create an inviting, light and airy environment featuring a small kitchenette and coffee machine, a new TV and double doors to improve wheelchair access for residents and their guests.

An oak plaque bearing the name 'Winray Lounge' is now on permanent display, with Ray commenting: “We’re very flattered to have the lounge named after us.” He went onto joke: “Be warned - we may be putting a collection box at the door and charging an entrance fee for those wanting to use the space!”

Ray and Win's romance began during the Second World War in the most unexpected way. Ray was serving in the RAF and stationed in Canada, where he met Win's brother, Austin. Through this connection, Ray and Win became pen pals and later sweethearts, exchanging letters across the Atlantic until they finally met and married in August 1946. They went on to have a daughter, Caroline and now have a granddaughter, Jenny.

Recollecting when they first met, the couple reminisce fondly about their initial impression of one another, with Win saying: "I thought cor, isn't he tall!" while Ray thought: "Isn't she lovely."

Ray adds: "I knew she was the one for me when we had a formal tea with Win's parents, but it was too formal for me, so I threw a handful of jelly at Win! Win's parents thought 'oh no' and Win threw some back at me. They could see we were well suited!"

The couple moved to Clevedon in 1961, where they discovered a shared passion for the performing arts. Ray and Win became active members of both Clevedon Opera Club and The Gilbert & Sullivan Society, with Ray serving as chairman of both organisations. Their involvement in these societies brought them great joy and created cherished memories spanning decades.

When asked to share their secrets for a long and happy marriage, Win offered a simple yet profound answer: "Love." Ray, displaying his characteristic humour, quipped that he simply "does as he's told."

Pamela Arnsmeyer, Home Manager at Bupa Norewood Lodge, commented: "Ray and Win's love story is truly inspiring. Since they moved into Norewood Lodge a couple of years ago, it has been wonderful to witness their devotion to one another; they've built such an incredible life together across eight decades. We feel privileged to care for them and to have celebrated this extraordinary milestone with them, and naming our new lounge after them is a fitting gesture to remember such a special couple. Congratulations to you both."

Norewood Lodge is located in Portishead and welcomes residents in need of nursing or residential care, including those living with Parkinson’s. For further information, please visit https://www.bupa.co.uk/care-services.