Couple return to church 60 years after they eloped
A minister welcomed a couple back who’d eloped to his church more than 60 years ago.
Reverend David Prentice- Hyers met returning love birds Charles and Rita Bailey as they savoured a nostalgic moment on Saturday morning.
The pair eloped at Troon Old Parish Church on September, 4 1954.
And they returned for the first time since that date on Saturday to remember the magical day.
The couple caught the train to the seaside town all those years ago because Rita couldn’t get married in England without her dad’s permission. When they turned up they learned there was a three- week long wait for the wedding bands. They stayed in a Troon guest house for that period until their big day. And they waited more than six decades to retrace their steps up the aisle.
Reverend Prentice- Hyers said: “It was a delightful surprise to meet Charles and Rita. I think it was quite emotional for them as this is the first time they have been back since the marriage.
“I walked in the door for our coffee morning and there they were. It was lovely to see how the church played a part in people’s lives more than half a century later.
“We do our best to make everyone who comes through the door welcome.”
Former teacher Rita, 82 and Charles, 87, who used to be a paramedic, had been visiting the Isle of Bute when they stopped off.
Their son Paul, 54, accompanied them to the church.
The dad- of- two said: “My parents ran away to Troon to get married.
“I thought we should go via Troon and find the church while visiting Scotland.
“It was quite emotional for my parents. The church were fantastic.”