General Chat

Thanks you to everyone who gave their input. It makes great reading and shows that one cannot generalise that much. Was amazed at the ones who were in marriage number 6 - wouldn't like to have to do their research!! Joan By the way, I married for the first time in 1968 and it lasted 5 years. Have been married for 29 years (nearly) in my second marriage.

My Uncle Terry (mum's brother) has been married for 28 years. My Uncle Nigel (mum;s younger brother) married first in 1985 and divorced in 1995. He married again in 1997 and is still married. My dad's brothers- Brian - older, but married in 1969. Trevor - older, and married in 1964. John - older, and married in 1965. All are still married. My grandparents (mum's side) married in 1945, aged 30, technically if both have lived until they same year, the marriage would have been going on 54 years. My other grandparents (dad's side), married in 1932, and again technically would have been married if both had died in the same year, 67 years!!!

My parents married in 1968 and they're still together.

We have been married 20 years - got married in 1984 when I had only just turned 20 years old. So we've beaten the odds really! I think the first few years were the most difficult - adjusting to the new lifestyle (hadn't lived together), usual money stuff, then a new baby - but we were determined to make it work, and prove the doubters wrong! We've definitely 'grown' together. My parents have just celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary, having got married in 1955. Mandy :)

Joan Apart from the social stigma, it was very expensive to get divorced. Certainly none of my family could have afforded it! Only divorce in my family is a cousin in the 1980s. Info on how and when the laws changed here: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/familyhistory/divorce/ nell

hi i,m not sure about this, my grandparents were only married when granddad got a devorce from his first wife in the twenties, mum had a half brother born the century before her, mum also devorced my father after 12 years, he had an affair with my godmother. i have been very lucky dave and i have been married nearly 37 years, and it,s all due to his patience, i really don,t deserve him marcie x

Me and Hubby married 33 years (70's) In Laws married 53 years (50's) Sister 1 married 20 years (80's 2nd marriage) Sister 2 ( divorced after 14 years 70's) Parents divorced after 28 years (40's) Friend divorced x2 both marriages in 70' Friend divorced x 2 1 in 70's 1 in 80's Grandparents in Law married 50+ years until one died (20's) Grandparents married 60+ years until both died within 4 weeks.(10's) Jacky :-)

My husband married in 1970, they split up 1986, divorced 1987, married me 1988. Joy

My Granny and Grandad (my mother's parents) were married 68 years - September 1911 to when Grandad died in May 1980. Joy

Go back 40 or 50 years and there were, basically men's jobs and women's jobs and very little opportunity (comparatively) for chatting up/flirting/fraternising as the two sexes hardly met. Probably the majority of women were at home anyway. Also, most people used public transport (or bikes) and always arrived home at the same time each day - very little "working late". It was a time when people knew their neighbours, when people worked round the corner from their home and word of any "hanky panky" would have soon found its way home.

Myself and my sisters (2) all married Andrews. My elder sister stayed married for nine years, my younger sister for two years and myself for ten years (twelve if you included the two year divorce process) My elder sister married late eighties, myself early nineties and my younger sister mid nineties. All our marriages broke down due to mans infidelties. My elder sister now lives happily with another man and several children (6) myself - I am getting remarried next year and my younger sister remarried five years ago. Good things come to those who wait.

i got married in 1978 and still married mum and dad married in 1954 and still married sister married inn1977 got divorced in 1980,remarried in 1986 and still married susie

My grandparents married 1930 divorced after 40years. other grandparents married after 20years together married for 22 years until he died so together 42years in all Me married 1978 divorced 1985, married 1986 divorced 1990 married 1993 left him 3 days before 3rd anniversary, all cheated on me. Sister married 1981 divorced 1991 brother married 2001 after 15 years together divorced 2003 Sister married 1995 still married. my parents married 1960 still together. i still believe strongly in marriage. but i don't think people should stay together if they are unhappy, lifes to short sandra

We were married in 1968 and the vast majority of our friends who were married around that time are still married to the same spouse. My brother-in-law (1965-1974), my 2nd cousin (1975-1990) and three couples who are friends of ours are the only divorced couples we know who were married in the late 60s/early 70s. My maternal grandparents - married 1923 til Grandad's death in 1969. My parents - married in 1945 til Dad's death in 1987 My brother & sister-in-law - married 1977 and still married. My parents-in-law - married in 1939 til Dad's death in 1993. I guess we are the lucky (?) ones! LOL Sue

My Grandparents Set 1: Both married in late 1930's & divorced Married each other late 1940's Set 2: Married mid 1930's & divorced GF remained single and GM lived with partner until she died - never remarried Parents: Married late 1960's & still together After living with my partner for 11 years I married in 2000 and we're still together. Our family seem to be improving as the years go by!! Emma x

My parents were married for 12 years, they wed in 1981. Now either remarried or enaged to be married! The whole trend of 1/3 marriages ending in divorce has put me off marriage. I don't intend to get married! becx

I think its because "In the olden days", Divorce was a dirty word. Often people stayed together because of the children, today, single parents and people just living together is acceptable. And those in an unhappy marriage can get out far easier and without prejudice now. My nan & grandad married in 1938, and was married for over 50 (happy but also hard) years. In those days you had to make the marriage work, to leave the marriage would have brought shame. E x

Hi Joan myself and three friends all married in the 90's, only one of us is still married to the same guy. The other three all divorced. With two now married again Shelli

Hi Joan I've been married for 41 years but many of my friends and relatives haven't been so lucky. Heather

Do you find that the current trend from the 65's onwards seem to be a throwaway marriage society? Would love to find out the norm. As a researcher I find that if couple married in the pre-50's early 60's, they seem to still be together. After this period it is hit and miss. I find that if I try and search for a mother who was married in late 50's / early 60's there could be three marriages for that person. I would love to know the trend/norm for all marriages and how long they lasted from when they married - if you can help - do please post your information.