Reliving that memorable day (From Stroud News and Journal)

Reliving that memorable day

THERE was definitely a feeling of deja vu at St Paul's Church, Whiteshill when Tom and Dorothy Deacon had their marriage blessed recently.

For there standing on the steps outside the church was not only their best man, Cliff Smith from 60 years ago but also three of their four original bridesmaids, Ida Smith, Doreen Dixon and Peggy Giles.

And the connection between Tom and Dorothy and St Paul's Church didn't stop there. Dorothy's mother and grandmother had also married at St Paul's and so had the Deacon's daughter, Janette.

Tom has been a church warden at St Paul's since his retirement more than 20 years ago.

Tom and Dorothy celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary on April 21.

They met in 1942 when they were both working for Hoffmans at Stonehouse and had their first date when Tom took Dorothy to the pictures on Christmas Eve 1942.

Six weeks later on his 18th birthday Tom left to join the RAF where over the next four years he progressed to the commissioned rank of Flying Officer.

They married in 1945 at St Paul's Church, Whiteshill and have lived in Whiteshill since then, first sharing a house with Dorothy's parents and then moving to their own bungalow at Kitesnest Lane.

On Sunday, April 24 Tom and Dorothy held a celebration party at The Old Golf Club, Minchinhampton where they were joined by their son and daughter Roger and Janette with their respective spouse's Carole and Keith, three of their four granddaughters (the oldest Melanie was unable to attend as she is in Australia), and other members of the family, friends and neighbours.