Mary Berry discusses her marriage of almost 60 years and nursing husband after he broke ribs
Dame Mary Berry is caring for her husband after a recent fall left him with broken ribs – but says it deepened their bond and made them even closer.
The TV cook and author has been married to 93-year-old Paul for almost 60 years. Asked about their relationship by Saga magazine, she said: “He’s just had a tumble with broken ribs. I’m very sympathetic about that. But he’s getting better day by day. Soon we’ll have him back to his own old self.’
“I love my husband far more now than I’ve ever done before. Now, in his dotage, he’s not so well. It’s a sheer pleasure looking after him, because he’s so grateful. You know, he always comes first, that is the way I was brought up.
“He’s very thoughtful now and appreciates the things I do for him… I obviously have to do more now, but it’s a pleasure. The sadness of being 90 is that so many of your friends are no longer here.
“They’re dying, so I’ve got a lot of girlfriends who are not as fortunate as me in having a husband, which is a great sadness for them.”
When former antique book seller Paul is fit again he and Mary will play croquet together, twice a week, as it helps them to stay active.
‘I absolutely love it,” Mary explained. “My husband’s better than me. He’s a sportsman who played rugger for Saracens. He’s 93 but he decided to play croquet, so I said I’d play too. I’m not as good as him, but it’s something we do together, which is great.”
She insisted she is keen to stay active, adding: “My mother was 105 when she died, so I’ve got pretty good genes. I’m immensely grateful for that. My fitness routine is to walk the dogs. Darcey and Freddie are working cocker spaniels.”
Mary and Paul married in 1966 and in an interview earlier this month, former Great British Bake Off judge Mary said the secret of her happy marriage was walking away when an argument was on the cards.
She said: “Paul always says that the secret to our long marriage is his saying, ‘Yes, dear’ to everything, and then going his own way. But we don’t argue. If any disagreements come up, I open the back door and just go out and maybe pick some flowers or get some apples. It’s amazing if you can walk away.
“Of course, if I was living in a top-floor flat, that would be difficult. But we respect each other. And I’m very lucky. He has mellowed in his old age and he’s become very appreciative of me.
“So I look after him, and it’s a great pleasure. That’s what I promised to do. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer. And we are very happy in our dotage.”
* The full interview with Mary is in the November issue of Saga Magazine. Mary will be back on screen later this month in BBC series Mary at 90: A Lifetime of Cooking.
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