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Many Joined Helmdon
Diamond...
John and Louise Holloway |
HER MAJESTY the Queen was just one of the many well-wishers
who showered a Helmdon couple with congratulations on their
Diamond Wedding day last Thursday.
A telegram expressing the Royal 'warm congratulations' arrived
on cue to complete the magic day for John and Louise Holloway,
of Church Street, Helmdon. And for the whole day the couple,
who were both born and bred in Helmdon, kept open house as relatives,
friends and neighbours streamed in to congratulate them.
And they were snowed under with flowers, gifts, and more cards
than they could count. During their long years in the village
Louisa, 84, and John, 87, have had many links with village organisations
— as gifts and cards from groups like Helmdon W.I., the
Mothers Union and Helmdon Senior Citizens Fellowship, showed.
BAKED CELEBRATION CAKE
An accomplished cook after sixty years of marriage, Louisa herself
made the celebration cake and mince pies enjoyed by the numerous
guests.
Chief among these were their family — Louisa and John have
no children, but Louisa's sisters Miss Kate Humphrey and Mrs.
Amy Thompson and her family were there — and Louisa's brother
Albert.
It was a rare treat for Louisa and John to see Albert and his
wife, as they live in Middlesex and cannot travel frequently
because Albert is disabled.
But their nephew Michael had secretly made special transport
arrangements to allow Albert to get to and from the railway
station, so they could make the journey by train, Michael and
their other nephew Graham, and his wife and daughter also called
in for the celebrations.
Helmdon has changed and grown since that day — January
3, 1925 — when John led Louisa to the altar of St. Mary
Magdalene church, Helmdon, where they were married by Canon
Bartlet.
SERVED IN WAR
Though they have spent a good deal of their lives in the village,
John spent two and a half years in France serving with the Northampton
Essex regiment during the first world war.
During the second world war he was in the Northamptonshire Police
War Reserve, while Louisa was an auxiliary nurse at the Park
Hospital, Brackley — now closed. After the war John worked
for British Rail at Helmdon Station, retiring at the age of
68. Gardening is now his main hobby.
Always taking an interest in village life, Louisa has been involved
with most Helmdon organisations, including the church and the
Red Cross. But on this very special anniversary day John and
Louisa were almost overwhelmed by the kindness of friends and
neighbours who crowded in with gifts and greetings. "We
would like to thank them all very much for everything,"
said Louisa.
WEATHERED THE STORMS
Looking back over their sixty years together, the couple admit
that life has yielded them its thorns as well as its roses,
but they have weathered all the storms together. Louisa said
her recipe for coping together is simple: "Take life's
problems as they come — and make the best of it,"
she says.
Unknown source - circa January 3rd 1985 |
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