A BIRCHINGTON RECORD - Sixty Six Years Married Isle of Thanet Gazette 10th March 1928 Sixty six years of happily married life is the proud record of Mr and Mrs John GARDNER of 5 Brunswick Place, Park Lane, Birchington, who celebrated the anniversary of their wedding day on Friday. A 'Gazette' representative who had visited them at home found them seated by the fire in a  pleasant little front sitting room containing many relics of bygone days. Mrs GARDNER was busily engaged in sewing and the steady manner in which she plied her needle and the meticulous arrangement of her work basket might well have been envied by women many years her junior. Both she and her husband enjoy excellent health and retain full possession of their faculties. Mr GARDNER, who is in his 90th year, was born at Acol in 1838 and throughout his long life has resided in the district. He commenced work as a scarer of crows at the early age of ten and from that day until five years ago, when he retired, he worked on the land in various capacities. Mrs GARDNER was born at Monkton in 1841 and will, therefore be eighty seven this year. It was while he was employed by the late Mr COLLARD at Monkton, as an outdoor servant that he met his future wife when she was a domestic servant in the same village. The couple were married at Monkton Church on the second of March 1862 by the late Rev Wish and first lived in a house in Station Road, Birchington. The premises which stood on the site of the United Services Club, have long since been demolished and Mr GARDNER recalls that in those days the only two public houses in the village were the Powell Arms and the New Inn. He and his wife moved to their present residence in Brunswick Place about fifty seven years ago and have held the tenancy under five different landlords. Mr GARDNER proudly asserts that he and Mrs GARDNER are the oldest pair in the parish, but it is probable that their record is unequalled in a far larger area. On fine days Mr GARDNER is still to be seen in the streets of Birchington but his wife has been prevented from walking outdoors for the past four years through rheumatism. Evidence of her amazing vitality is provided by the fact that in March of last year she underwent a serious operation at Ramsgate General Hospital and although slight hope was entertained for her recovery, the operation proved completely successful. She returned to her home and after a week or two in bed regained her customary good health. Longevity is not peculiar to one member of Mrs GARDNER's family for she has a sister who will be ninety one this year and another in her 89th year. Mr GARDNER's parents lived to be over eighty and his grandfather attained the age of ninety one. He is the eldest of a family of eight, all of whom survive. Two daughters, Miss GARDNER, who resided with them and a Mrs HILL, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren are among their living relatives and a married daughter died about seven years ago. Mr and Mrs GARDNER have been constant readers of the Gazette for many years. A Picture of the couple accompanies this article. (Wife's maiden name Charlotte HADDAWAY) Margate Local & Family History