9:40am Friday 12th March 2010
By Susannah Palk
A COUPLE who have know each other since infancy have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
Jack, 94, and Hilda Pressman, 90, were given the royal treatment by staff at Rubens House care home, Ballards Lane, Finchley, with a surprise anniversary dinner.
The romantic meal on Wednesday was complete with roses, music, cake and a black tie waitress.
Jack met Hilda 90 years ago at the age of four, when his grandmother picked up the newborn Hilda and said to him in Yiddish “one day she will be your bride”.
His grandmother turned out to be right.
On March 10, 1940, three weeks before Jack was called up for active duty during World War II, the couple were married at Cannon Street Road Synagogue.
Jack said: “It’s a day we’ve never forgotten and we’ve loved each other all our lives.”
But before they were man and wife, the couple knew each other well, having lived only houses apart on the same street in East London.
Hilda said: “Growing up, Jack never looked at another girl. But I went out with other boys, until I married him of course.”
Along with gifts and flowers, the couple were presented with a special congratulatory card from the Queen, their second, having received one on their diamond anniversary.
With two daughters, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, Hilda joked that the secret of their marriage was sharing.
She said: “It’s about give and take. Jack gives and I take.”
But on a more seriously note she said: “We’re just very lucky people.”
Social care co-ordinator Christina Brago-Nimako, who organised the special dinner, said: “The whole team put all this together, the staff did all the decorations.
“It’s a very special day. We’ve never had a 70th anniversary in the home before.”
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