Relationship Advice From Older Men

With modern love more bewildering than ever. What can older men teach new generation about dating and commitment?

Here old men offer wisdom about life, love and women.

Artist Anthony Green, 76, has been married to Mary Cozens-Walker since 1961. They met at the Slade School of Art, after Anthony plucked up the courage to ask her for a dance.

• If you don’t ask anyone to dance, you stay a wallflower.
• We made polite conversation about art and went to see French films. We were like that until 1961 until we got married. Anything more was unthinkable. I asked Mary’s father for his permission. He said to me, “Have a hard look at her mother because that’s who you’re going to end up with.”
• My advice: marriage is to be a double act on a tandem bicycle. Pull together.
• It’s hardly a secret, but the trick to a successful relationship is making each other laugh. I’m an absolute fool. I am not afraid of being silly.

Terence Harvey, 72, has been in a relationship with girlfriend Jane for 17 years.

• Make them laugh.
• You are very lucky if you meet someone you never want to disappoint. Which is how I feel about Jane. That is one of the reasons a man would remain faithful.
• Strangely enough, Jane and I have never had a row. We’ve been on the verge but we avoid it. Because rows are nasty and most of the time, pointless.
• If you maintain respect, then loving someone is pretty easy, really.