CELEBRATIONS Couple celebrate 70 happy years
A COUPLE who met at a pub called the Prince of Wales in Buckinghamshire and, aptly, ended up settling in Wales, have just celebrated 70 years of marriage.
June and Harold Stevens, who now live in Cefn Glas, Bridgend, celebrated the milestone with a family dinner on Sunday.
Harold, 93, originally from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, said he first met June, 89, at a dance at the Prince of Wales in his hometown in the 1940s.
They married at St Mary’s Parish Church on July 2, 1948.
Harold said he can remember having to bring barrels of beer to the reception in a hand cart because there were so few cars in those days and they couldn’t afford the luxury.
He said they honeymooned in Middlesborough because money was tight.
In 1960, Harold took over as manager for a bookbinding company in Cymmer near Maesteg.
He was already working at the main factory in Aylesbury.
June worked as a waitress at numerous upper-class dining establishments.
Her last position was at the Laleston Country Club near Bridgend which has since closed.
The couple still live in the same house they bought in 1960 and where they brought up two sons and a daughter.
Both are keen gardeners but also like to get away on holidays whenever the opportunity arises.
They also spend a lot of time with their neighbours John, Sylvia, Suki, Ray, Ellery and Howard, who have been “superb friends” for years.
They also enjoy seeing their seven granchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Their son Martin Stevens said: “All three of us realise how lucky we are to have both parents still with us and living independently, albeit with some help. They’re still enjoying life and looking forward to family events and breaks away.
“They have set the most marvellous example to us of how to be parents, giving each of us a loving home, showing love and care to each other and us, their children, all our lives. We are so proud of them.”
The couple plan to make another celebratory trip to the Cotswolds in the near future to enjoy a spa break.