Published: October 22, 2008
Celebrating Burnham-On-Sea couple reach combined age of 200!

One of Britain's oldest couples were celebrating in Burnham-On-Sea on Tuesday (October 21st) after BOTH reached the grand age of 100.

Pete Postings celebrated her 100th birthday in August and Wally clocked up his century on Tuesday at Burnham's Tudor Lodge Residential Home, where they enjoyed a day of celebrations with friends and family.

Wally received his telegram from the Queen and is best known for running the former Culverwells Antiques shop in Victoria Street, Burnham for 40 years.

Wally initially worked as a poultry farmer at Coxley, near Wells, and married Beatrice (who likes to be known as Pete) on 27th March 1929. She was born on 18th August 1908 and he was born on 21st October 1908.

During the war, Wally worked for Rotol Air Screws in Cheltenham and in 1951 took over Culverwells Antiques in Victoria Street, Burnham from his father-in-law. The business was originally established in 1921 and Wally didn't retire until 1975. Mr and Mrs Blake were running Culverwells until 1991 when they also retired.

Mr and Mrs Postings had three children and their daughter, Pam Blake, lives locally with her husband Bert. Their son Terry Postings emigrated to Edmonton in Canada in 1971 but visits regularly with his wife Jo and they have this week made the trip once more to join in the birthday celebrations.

The couple have four grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren!

Pete was unfortunately taken ill around her 100th Birthday in the summer so celebrated her big day in Burnham Memorial Hospital. However, she made a good recovery and she and her husband moved to Tudor Lodge Residential Home later in August.

"They are active residents and enjoy taking part in many of the activities," Chris Arnold from the home told Burnham-On-Sea.com. "Wally enjoys regular walks around the garden to keep active and the pair have very sharp minds. It's incredible they have been married for 79 years."

Despite their longevity, the couple are not Britain's oldest married couple. Phyillis and Ralph Tarrant from Sheffield claim that title with their combined age of 205.