In 1996 Mrs Fathers suffered a stroke that left her unable to hold a conversation and with little movement in the right side of her body.

Despite the couple’s determination to carry on, they found their freedom had been cut back and their lives changed forever.

But today (Friday) the Warwick couple are leaving to spend a free week on holiday in Norfolk organised by Warwick Lions.

They will be going on a steam cruise on the Norfolk Broads, visiting the seaside in Great Yarmouth and seeing the sights of the county.

The couple were chosen for the free holiday because they have overcome many of the difficulties that faced them, but Mr Fathers admits the stroke destroyed the couple’s hopes for their retirement.

He said: “It shattered us. It completely changed our lives from what we had planned for.

“But it was a matter of adapting. We had to adapt to keep going.”

Mrs Fathers spent a month in hospital after the stroke and when she returned home the couple’s lives had changed forever. A blood clot had left Mrs Fathers’ brain permanently damaged.

They had been keen gardeners but now only Mr Fathers is able to plant and dig.

He also had to take on almost all of the cooking and cleaning.

But the 77-year-old retired Potterton worker does not mind caring for his wife. He said: “It’s love. We don’t lose patience with each other. We are quite content. We have accepted it.

“You can’t change it so you have to accept it.

“When you have been together for as long as we have you look after each other.

“I said Betty had looked after me all these years so now it was my turn to look after her.”

The couple attend Warwick Stroke Club at the Iris Lees Day Centre every Tuesday and Warwick Senior Citizens’ Club at the centre every Wednesday, as well as enjoying pub lunches and jigsaw puzzles.

The Lions’ welfare committee chairman David Wright said the club chose the couple because of their refusal to let the stroke dominate their lives.

Mr Wright said: “They both really make sure they have a full and meaningful life. They really are a charming couple. They haven’t let the stroke affect them.”