OUR FOREVER HOME
We never dreamt of moving, even if we’d won lottery, say pair celebrating 62 years in same council house
A COUPLE have marked living in the same council house for 62 years.
Ken and Mary Harlow moved into their home in Bramcote, Nottingham, in August, 1956, a few years after their local church wedding.
Ken and Mary have three children – Joy, 62, and twins Paul and Phillip, 61 – as well as five grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.
Retired bricklayer Ken, 87, said: “We have had so many memories here, too many to mention.
“But I guess the most memorable is when our twins were born upstairs.
“We didn’t know that we were having two until they were born – quite a surprise!
“We had our three children all born within 11 months of one another, and have now got five grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren. So the house has always been full of kids, and been a very happy place.”
They recall that when twins came, Ken had to rush out to buy an extra set of everything – and say they are still getting over the shock 61 years later.
Lucky
Ken added: “Earlier this month we celebrated our 65th wedding anniversary with a party in the house, and we were thrilled when the local mayor and mayoress dropped by to offer their congratulations.
“It was brand new when we moved in. We came here from an old terraced house that was being demolished, so moving here was luxurious compared to what we were used to. We thought we were so lucky.
“I can’t remember the exact rent we paid back then – but it was only a few bob.”
Mary, 85, said: “I can’t remember how many times we have redecorated but it must be more than a dozen.
“We thought about buying it over the years but just never got round to it.
“But we have never dreamt of moving, even if we won the lottery – we’d rather spend it on the children.
“And the neighbours are lovely – although we’ve had too many to count over the years.
“We look forward to being here for a good few years yet.
“We love life here. The house faces a lovely park and is on a quiet street. After so long the house is flooded with happy memories.” Ken added: “I used to walk to the Jaguar pub – which is now a Co-op store – opposite in my slippers and Mum used to live in the White Lion pub in nearby Bramcote village, so I have not moved far.”
Ken built many houses in the neighbourhood, including one of his favourite places, the Festival pub in Trowell.
The couple have celebrated plenty of landmarks in their life in the house where their three children grew up. Son Phillip, of nearby Stapleford, a retired bricklayer, said he remembered growing up on the street with other young families.
He added: “It was a great time growing up there in the ’60s.
“Everyone was really close and it was a time people could rent somewhere and not be moved on.
“All the kids used to play on the park and go to the same schools. We all grew up together.“He said he wished his family had bought the house and revealed they thought about it when he and sister Joy, who now lives in Spain, were both working.
“We toyed with that idea,” he said. “Looking back, when we left school and started work, they should have bought it then, when there were four incomes coming into the house.
“Whether that can happen I do not know. I imagine they can get a massive discount.”