Seventy years happily married and still going strong!

That's the accolade due to Stanley Howard Charles Hall and his charming, petite wife Kathleen of Rose Hill, Southampton West. They are a staunchly Christian couple, whose lives have revolved around their closely knit home and church.

Charles at age 91 is a noted for his imperishable, winning smile as for his smarts as a mason, carpenter, fisherman and beekeeper. He's the last survivor or "lone sailor" as he put it, of a family of five brothers and three sisters born to Isaac and Emily Jane Hall, late of Whale Bay, Southampton. They and their offspring were popularly known as known as the "Ikey" Halls.

Stanley was working on the old Bermuda Railroad when he first "spied" his wife to be.

"It was a most romantic, love-at-first-sight situation," recalled Kathleen.

She was one of the 13 children born to Robert Trott and his wife the former Electra Richardson both of Bailey's Bay. They had a son who helped support the household by working on the Furness Withy liner Queen of Bermuda that plied weekly between the island and New York.

Kathleen was sent to Hamilton to receive her older brother's family money. While minding her own business waiting for him to come ashore, she stood on the sidewalk opposite Number One Shed, where Stanley happened to be talking to a Bailey's Bay fellow. The latter hailed her, prompting Stanley to follow through with an introduction.

Kathleen was 16 when she and Stanley exchanged vows at Holy Trinity Church, Bailey's Bay. They honeymooned at the home of his parents on Rose Hill until four months later when Stanley secured an old shack-like wooden building on Cottage Hill, Bailey's Bay on condition that he fixed it up, which he did splendidly.

Meanwhile Stanley began building his own home on property he acquired at Rose Hill. There is where they raised their five sons, passing on to them his skills in the trades, as a farmer and fisherman from the family boat he built.

Kathleen was the only "girl" in the family, until the sons came home with their own beautiful brides. Like their father, each built their own homes, with mother cooking the food for the ensuing rallies. Family and friends did everything from digging the tanks, doing the roofing and whatever.

Kathleen has never lost her fascination for "Bay" as she called it, and the happy life she had playing and swimming in the area of the Bailey's Bay Cricket Club. Every opportunity she got, she would leave the pristine Whale Bay beaches and drive the children and grandchildren to Bailey's Bay for a swim or picnic.

Their five sons and wives produced 14 children and 12 grandchildren. They all gathered at their Calvary Gospel Hall, Southampton auditorium for a feast on Sunday and to embrace Stanley and Kathleen. A highlight was the heartfelt tribute paid by grandson Shannon that moved some of his listeners to tears.

For many years Stanley was first an usher, then a Sunday School teacher and an Elder at Calvary. His wife likewise was active in the church, and among other things a Pink Lady at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

They spend much of their time relaxing at home, situated just off the Number Ten fairway of the Port Royal Golf Course.