Family surprise adds to happiness of golden wedding

Fifty years ago on a sunny November morning, a horse-drawn carriage festooned with ringing bells drew up outside the Wesleyan Chapel, Barnstaple. The pair of greys were carrying two young people to be married. Mr and Mrs Jack Edwards celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at their home, 2 Silver Street, Bideford, together with their son and daughter, and families.

The arrival of their son and daughter came as a complete surprise for them. The son, Mr H J Edwards, and his wife, of Swindon, and the daughter, Mrs Edna Ewens and her husband, of Borden, Hants, had left early that morning to arrive in Bideford for the anniversary.

There was also cause for further celebration - it was Sandra Ewens' sixteenth birthday.

Before moving to their present address two years ago, Mr and Mrs Edwards lived for 40 years at East-the-Water, and ever since they have lived in Bideford, a total of 49 years, they have never failed to receive their weekly copy of the Bideford Gazette.

The secretary of the Bideford Original branch of the Old-age Pensions Associations, Mrs F M Rendall, was among callers offering congratulations. At the BAAC HQ the branch gave a celebration party in honour of Mr and Mrs Edward's anniversary.

Gazette article dated 25 November 1960