Our Golden Wedding

We were married on Saturday 10th August 1957 at the Methodist Chapel in our home village where we had grown up together.

We began our anniversary day by attending a service of Holy Communion in Dulverton Chapel with fellow residents. Our parish priest presided and preached. It was the feast of St Lawrence, deacon and martyr but he emphasised that marriage and martyrdom didn't necessarily go together. After the service there was a drinks reception for us in the Hall entrance area until noon when we left to change from clericals into going away outfits.

We travelled by train and taxi to an hotel by Newmillerdam near Wakefield where we met up with close family members for evening dinner together. Apart from my brother and his wife the rest of us stayed overnight and met up again for breakfast next morning. We, the golden couple, were booked at the hotel for the weekend.

Saturday saw us enjoying the sun and local water expanse. We also visited our home village and local town - Royston and Barnsley.

On Sunday we began the day at Royston Parish Church followed by a visit to parents' graves in the churchyard. Carvery lunch at the local hotel across from the church. After lunch we spent the afternoon at my brother's home in the village and returned to our hotel early evening.

Next morning it was up and off to Wakefield for journey by train to Cardiff where we lived for the first five years of our married life. Our hotel was just across the road from the Castle and near Cardiff Arms Park.

Tuesday we spent most of the day in the redeveloped Cardiff Bay exploring the newly built home of the Welsh Assembly and the Millennium Centre plus lots of other features of the area.

Wednesday back to visit friends in Splott at the other end of the docks - our home during those early years of our life together and the birthplace of our daughter. Later in the afternoon we relax in the Civic Centre gardens before a visit to a temporary exhibition at the National Museum of Wales on the contribution of two wealthy spinster sisters to the artistic and cultural life of the nation. The gift of their art collection to the Museum was part of the exhibition. In the evening we join the congregation at St Mary's, Bute Street for a eucharistic celebration for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Thursday we meet up for some quality time with another friend from our time in the city 50 years ago before making visits to both St David's Roman Catholic Cathedral and the Llandaff Anglican Cathedral - both uplifting and inspiring places.

Friday is the day of our return to Scarborough which we reach by teatime. So much to share from our travels. Minds and hearts are full of a rich mix of jubilee memories.

We thank God for our years together and for all the blessings of our married life.

We are grateful for family and friends who have been able to worship and celebrate with us.

For all that has been we say 'thanks'; for all that is yet to be we say 'yes'.