Wife of 72 years joins the 100 club

DAVID HALLETT/The Press

LONG MARRIAGE: Ettie Melhuish celebrated her 100th birthday with her husband, Frank, yesterday. He turned 100 last year.

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Centenarian Frank Melhuish celebrated his wife's 100th birthday yesterday, saying the secret to their 72-year marriage was to "look forward to coming home".

Frank and Ettie Melhuish married in 1938, and have lived in the same Christchurch house ever since.

Family gathered at their Mount Pleasant home yesterday to celebrate Ettie's milestone with fruitcake and coffee. Matching pairs of birthday cards from the Queen and Prime Minister John Key sat together on the bookshelf.

The couple have five children, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Frank Melhuish said he had growled at his wife occasionally, "but then I kissed her to make up".

He put his long life down to good food and a lack of alcohol.

However, he said he did not feel great at age 100.

"It feels very washed out," he said.

Ettie Melhuish invited The Press to her next birthday celebrations.