Coronavirus UK: Couple of 68 years die minutes apart

An ‘inseparable’ couple who met on a dance floor 68 years ago tragically passed away within ten minutes of each other.

Margaret and Clifford Emmett, who were due to celebrate their sapphire anniversary this summer, died on May 1 in White Ash Brook Care Home, in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, with 97-year-old Margaret slipping away just minutes after her beloved husband.

Their niece and closest living relative Susan Sanderson said her uncle, 91, had tested positive for coronavirus a week before, while Margaret was not officially diagnosed with the virus.

Susan said they moved into the Thwaites Road nursing home just before Christmas 2019.

She said: ‘They were a lovely couple, I would say they were inseparable. They kept themselves to themselves, but they did have lots of friends.

Margaret (pictured right) and Clifford (pictured left) Emmett, who were due to celebrate their sapphire anniversary this summer, died on May 1 in White Ash Brook Care Home, in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire within minutes of one another

‘When you went to see them they made you really welcome and they had to feed you. They did really well looking after themselves – it’s only been two or three years since they started struggling really.’

Susan, who is grateful to the home for the care her relatives received, said she was shocked when she received a phone call saying that her aunt and uncle had both died, with Clifford’s condition in particular having deteriorated rapidly.

She said: ‘I was just so shocked that they had both gone. He went first. As far as I was aware he had tested positive but I just thought he had a cough and was doing okay.

‘The last time we saw Aunty Margaret she was quite poorly, but then she rallied again. [The home] used to ring me and let me know what was going on.

‘I do want to thank the carers for looking after them.’

Clifford lived in Accrington before they were married and Margaret was the last of 10 siblings from Oswaldtwistle to pass away.

The pair, who met at the Blackpool Tower ballroom on Easter Saturday 1952 were married in Oswaldtwistle. 

Clifford worked as a milkman for 50 years in the Hollins Lane and Manchester Road area, and Margaret was a weaver at Peel Fold Mill, as well as a local sweet factory.

Both long-time members of Rishton Golf Club, together they loved holidaying all over the country playing golf together, and were said to have played every course in Scotland.

The inseparable couple met at the Blackpool Tower ballroom on Easter Saturday 1952 were married in Oswaldtwistle

Clifford was a keen dancer for around 60 years, and they were both involved in the social side of golf club life. After packing away the clubs when they got older, they enjoyed playing bowls at Peel Park for many years.

The Hyndburn born and bred couple, previously of Lodge Street, Accrington, featured in the Accrington Observer on the celebration of  their 60th anniversary in August 2015, telling us their recipe for a long and happy marriage was ‘always pulling together and doing everything together’.

Joanne McHugh, manager of the care home, said they were together ‘to their last breath’.

She said: ‘It did happen very quickly. We cared for them very much and they were definitely in love with each other and we could see that.

‘They sat together every day, had meals together and did activities together. There was a strong bond to the very end.’

Joanne added: ‘It is a difficult time for every care home at the minute, but my staff have gone above and beyond and done an absolutely fantastic job, and I thank my staff.’