Triple Diamonds! Three couples celebrate 60th wedding anniversary

AVON Bowls Club is celebrating 60 years of marriage for three couples who belong to the club. Fred and Evelyn Tape, Mervyn and Marian Lockey and Gary and Mo Elms have all reached their Diamond Wedding anniversaries this year.

Pauline Baker, publicity officer for Avon Bowls Club said, “Fred and Evelyn (nee Buckland) Tape celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary on 26th July with a party for family and friends.

“Fred, a Cornishman and Evelyn from Hampshire, met when Evelyn was working in the NAAFI and Fred was a Corporal in the Royal Air Force.  They were married at St. Peter’s Church on Hayling Island and went on to have four children and five grandchildren.  They arrived in Melksham in 1973 when Fred was posted to Lyneham.

“Their association with the bowls club began in the eighties and they have worked tirelessly to help Avon Bowls Club to flourish, have both been Club Captain on several occasions, and in fact Evelyn is coming to the end of her third tenure as Ladies’ Captain. Fred is also passionate about brass band music which, hailing from Cornwall is no surprise.

“The second couple celebrating this unique occasion is Mervyn and Marian (nee Curtis) Lockey, both Wiltshire born and  bred, who met in 1952 although it was 1957 before they tied the knot at Holy Trinity Church in Trowbridge on 31st August 1957, five weeks after Fred and Evelyn Tape.

“Mervyn, a carpenter/builder and Marian, a receptionist  at a local opticians, built their own bungalow in the town where they lived for 14 years before moving to the outskirts 46 years ago, to enjoy their garden and the wildlife therein. They have a son and daughter and they too have five grandchildren.

“Apart from playing bowls, Marian was an active member of the Melksham House Concert Party making regular appearances with bowlers Ethel and Les Teague, while Mervyn was an accomplished musician and keyboard player. Marian has also twice been Ladies’ Captain at the Avon and still enjoys dancing. Sadly, Mervyn is not in the best of health, so they celebrated quietly with their family at home.

“Last, but by no means least the third couple, Gary and Mo Elms will be celebrating their Diamond Anniversary on 28th September. Both were born and brought  up in Chippenham, attended the same school, both worked for Westinghouse at Chippenham, and eventually married at Hardenhuish Church in 1957.

“They have two children, both boys, who between them have presented Gary and Mo with nine grandchildren, who in their turn have produced seven great-grandchildren! Quite a family!

“Gary ran the Avon Sports Club at Bradford-on-Avon from 1983 to 1988, and following their return to Wiltshire after a spell in Swansea, he joined Avon Bowls Club three years ago.

“Everyone at Avon Bowls Club offers sincere congratulations to Fred and Evelyn, Mervyn and Marian and Gary and Mo.”