TWO couples in Melksham celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on the same day earlier this month.
Edna and Alan Gullis and Brendon and Mary Harvey got married on 6th May 1944 and both couples are still going strong seven decades later.
Edna and Alan Gullis celebrated their 70th anniversary at the Kings Arms which was the same place that they met in 1941. Alan has always lived in Melksham and met Edna after she moved to the town from London during the Second World War.
Three years after they met they married at St. Michael’s Church and have reamained together in Melksham ever since.
Alan said, “I remember coming out with a friend and liking the look of a girl in the Kings Arms who I thought was nice and then we went over for a dance in what is now the town hall – and the rest is history.
“The secret to our marriage has to be sense of humour and the fact she can’t hear out of one ear so I always make sure I moan into that one! We are very fortunate and we have now received our third card from the Queen having had one for our 50th, 60th and now 70th wedding anniversary – I think she likes us!”
Alan and Edna have three children, eight grandchildren and five great-granchildren.
Brendon and Mary Harvey were also celebrating their wedding anniversary earlier this month and they did so by having a celebration with cake at Blenheim House where they are residents. The couple met at a dance hall in Glasgow after Brendon saw Mary and asked her to dance with him. They went on to get married at a church in Hanwell on the outskirts of London on 6th May 1941.
The both moved to Wiltshire five years ago to be nearer family before coming to Melksham almost a year ago. When asked what the secret was to their long marriage Brendon said, “To make sure your wife always wins the fights!”
The couple have two children, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
