A KENDAL couple were thrown a surprise party in honour of their 70th wedding anniversary.

Ken Hilton, 93, and Mona Hilton, 92, were the centre of a ‘wonderful’ day of celebrations at the Heron Hill Care Home in Kendal where they both live.

Staff and residents at the home along with the couple’s children Keith and Lisa, helped the nonagenarians celebrate.

The day was organised by care home lead Melani De Ramos who wanted to mark the special occasion.

She said: “A little while ago, Ken and Mona’s son told me their 70th anniversary was coming up so I thought we had to do something special to celebrate.

"It’s not very often people get to celebrate their platinum anniversary!

“It was the first time we have done anything like this at the home so that made it extra special too.

“Ken and Mona were very surprised, we told them we would do something to mark the day, but they weren’t expecting the big event we organised.

"It was lovely that their children were able to join the celebrations, especially after all the restrictions we’ve had recently.

“We had food, drinks and a big anniversary cake. The couple read the many cards they had been sent and then there was music and dancing.

“I organised for Ken and Mona to be given a blessing from Rev. Paul Jackson, reminiscent of their wedding day all those years ago.”

Melani said that spirits were high throughout the day and all the residents commented on how much they had enjoyed it.

She said: “I think the best part of the day though was when Ken sang a song dedicated to Mona after they received their blessing from the Reverend. Ken is always singing for us in the care home, but this performance to Mona was something special.”

An avid Elvis Presley fan, Ken serenaded Mona with his rendition of ‘I can’t help falling in love with you’ by the crooner.

The couple’s children even brought along a picture of the pair’s original wedding day in 1951 to mark the occasion.

Ken Hilton said: “It was a beautiful day; we weren’t expecting it at all.

“It was so nice to be able to celebrate with everyone.”

Mona said: “We had a wonderful day. The girls organised a great party and I was given some beautiful roses.

“The celebration made us very happy, in fact, we couldn’t be happier.”