A 105-year-old man who recently entered the record books for being one half of the world's longest marriage died yesterday at his Hereford home.
Percy Arrowsmith and his wife Florence, aged 100, enjoyed their 80th wedding anniversary just two weeks ago with a party for family and friends.
The Queen sent a card offering her "warm congratulations" and high street retailer Clinton Cards issued special cards for well-wishers to send.
Mr and Mrs Arrowsmith, who have three children, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, married at All Saints Church in Hereford on June 1 1925, close to the home they have lived in for almost all of their wedded life.
They met at another church in the city where he sang in the choir and she was the Sunday school teacher.
The Bishop of Hereford, who visited the couple on the day of their anniversary, said he was very sorry to hear about Mr Arrowsmith's death so soon after the couple's special day.
"Percy and Flo were very happy when I saw them on their anniversary," said Bishop Anthony Priddis. "They were still very much in love with each other. They have been church goers all their life and I am sure the family will find comfort in their Christian faith."
The West Hereford Ministry Team is looking after Florence. Arrangements for the funeral have not yet been finalised.
Guinness World Records presented the couple with a certificate confirming their marriage as the longest for a living couple.
With a staggering combined age of 205, they also hold the title for "oldest married couple's aggregate age".
The couple claimed the key to a good marriage was not to sleep on an argument.
