Golden celebrations (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Golden celebrations

10:44am Thursday 2nd August 2007 in Chard By Joanna Glover

A CHARD couple are due to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary next Friday with family at a surprise venue.

Leslie (78) and Audrey (81) Hannaford were married on August 10 1957 at Chard Baptist Church.

The couple became pen friends when Leslie was in the navy in 1956 and met when he came to Chard on leave.

They said: "We had a lot in common and got on well from the start.

"We are very happy together, our love has grown as time has gone by."

Leslie worked for SWEB for four years after leaving school, was in the navy for 12 years, worked at Sunnyland's retirement home for eight years and retired in 1993 after 24 years at the MOD in Taunton.

Audrey was an assistant in Co-op after leaving school and worked at Westland's in Yeovil during the war. She was also a home help and worked for a pencil factory until it closed down.

The couple have a son, David, daughter-in-law Mandy, and three grandchildren Adam, Natalie and Jodie.

Leslie and Audrey have lived in Chard since Leslie finished his time in the navy, and have been in their home in Bradfield Way for 23 years.

They will be celebrating 50 years of marriage with family at a party arranged by Mandy and David as a surprise.

The couple added: "Our secret to a happy marriage is our love for one another, trust, sharing and caring."