Couple die within one week of each other after 60 years of marriage

A couple who couldn’t bear to be apart died within a week of each other after nearly sixty years of happy married life.

Chris Scott, 82, succumbed to cancer at Prospect Hospice in Swindon, Wilts, just seven days after his beloved wife Mary passed away peacefully at their home in Sunningdale Road following a brave six-year battle with breast cancer.

After meeting in 1956 at the Locarno Ballroom in Old Town, Swindon, Chris, from nearby Pinehurst, took just two weeks to propose to Mary, who was from Trowbridge.

They married soon after and went on to have a daughter Susan in 1960 and a son Michael four years later.

Michael said his parents were ‘incredible, with a real passion for life’.

He added “We had lovely childhoods, of traditional seaside holidays to Sidmouth in Devon, and trips to Scotland, Malta and Butlins.”

After spells in the RAF, working for the railway and WH Smith, his dad settled at Cloverleaf, where he took his accountancy exams, eventually rising to become company secretary.

In retirement, he was a freelance financial consultant, aided by Mary, who had also passed accountancy exams.

They were members of the Liberal Party and developed a love of travel.

Michael said: “Later in life, they went on a round-the-world trip and a train journey on the Orient Express.

“When I moved to South America they were enthusiastic visitors to Peru and Brazil. My dad even fished for piranha in the Amazon!”

The family shared a passion for football, especially their home club, Swindon Town.

Chris and Michael wrote a short book, Nothing is Impossible, celebrating Swindon’s promotion from the fourth division in the 1985-6 season, with a record 102 points.

Chris worked as a part-time freelance football reporter for various local and national papers as well as radio and TV, with former Town manager Lou Macari among those who paid tribute after his death.

He was also involved through the years with the Swindon Town supporters’ club.

Michael said: “He reckoned he visited all 92 grounds of that era and bought a mug at each one to mark the occasion.

“His favourite season was 1993-4 when he was able to visit the press boxes of all the Premier League teams. In particular he treasured the trip to Old Trafford.”

But it was family that gave the couple their greatest pleasure, particularly grandsons Dan and Salvador, Michael said.

“Family was of over-riding importance to them both.

“They maintained close links to their own families but their passion was their two grandsons.

“The term doting grandparents could have been invented for them.

“They liked to help people and they touched many lives outside of their family. Whether it was through football, politics or helping people solve their tax problems, they would always go out of their way to help.

“I am sure many people have reason to be thankful for their kindness and skills.

“They were part of the lifeblood of the Swindon community for so many years and will be very sorely missed by a lot of people, in addition to their families.”