A WELLS couple have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary by renewing their wedding vows at the church where they were married.
Bob and Wendy Payne met in Warminster when Wendy – then living at Dilton Marsh – was doing an apprenticeship in hairdressing in the town and Bob was doing an apprenticeship with The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME).
They were married in Westbury All Saints Church on October 9, 1965. Bob at the time was aged 25 and Wendy was aged 21.
They returned to the church on October 9 this year to renew their wedding vows, before going to Kilver Court in Shepton Mallet for a celebration lunch with their family, including their son Jason and daughter Kate, and their three grandchildren.
They had a lovely surprise when a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow arrived to transport them from Westbury to Kilver Court – a gift from their nephew Thomas in California who was unable to be there on the day.
Bob started work in Bath at Bath Cabinet Makers, but after a while got a job at Charlton House with Roger Saul, looking after the hotel. It was there that he took on the role of Father Christmas, going to the hotel on Christmas Day to distribute presents to guests and family.
When Roger Saul took over Kilver Court, Bob followed, handing out presents each year as Father Christmas, and this has continued since the Showering family acquired Kilver Court. Bob and Wendy expressed their gratitude to the Showerings for allowing them to use Kilver Court for the 60th anniversary party. It is not generally used for such events anymore but an exception was made in appreciation of Bob’s appearances there as Father Christmas for so many years.
Wendy worked in the electronics business for more than 30 years, including making magnetic recording heads in Wells, and then went to work at the Mulberry Factory Shop in Shepton Mallet.
The couple lived in Warminster initially until moving to a derelict farm at Mudgley, near Wedmore, with Wendy’s sister and her family, and a couple of year later coming to Wells.
“We love it,” Wendy said of the city. “Bob has bought an electric bike and is a Wells Ambassador, he meets and greets the visitors off their coaches, explains the odd bit about Wells, making them laugh, gives them maps and sends them off to enjoy our super city… always with a joke and a smile.
“I love gardening although it’s getting a bit difficult now, I love and grow orchids, and above all love a challenge. I campaigned to stop the parking in Stoberry near the two schools, successfully, but it took me five years.
“I was recently horrified that the West Mendip Hospital was closing beds, reducing them from 36 to 16, and campaigned outside the hospital.”
She said of her and Bob’s long marriage: “Our recipe for a happy marriage is definitely love, total understanding, respect, and share your thoughts with each other every day, and sometimes it’s very different but interesting.
“We’ve had a hard working life but are grateful. We always say ‘what goes around comes around’ and that’s always worked for us, thankfully.”