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Spalding couple celebrate 70th wedding anniversary




A Spalding couple, who met completely by chance, have celebrated 70 years of marriage - with a special congratulations from the Queen.

Doris and Gordon (‘Don’) Penfold celebrated their Platinum wedding anniversary on February 17, and were amazed to receive a card from Buckingham Palace to mark this milestone occasion.

“It was a surprise!” Doris said. “I thought you only got a card from the Queen for your 100th birthday.”

Doris and Don Penfold of Spalding, who have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with a card from the Queen.
Doris and Don Penfold of Spalding, who have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with a card from the Queen.

The special delivery was organised by their daughter Mandy Thomas (59) who lives in Whaplode.

She contacted Buckingham Palace, which can arrange a card from The Queen to celebrate Diamond wedding anniversaries (60th) and above.

Doris and Don, both aged 88, met when they were teenagers.

They later moved to South Holland from London in 1979 to run the Bull pub in Pinchbeck.

“We were both born and bred in Vauxhall,” Don explained.

“We actually lived within a mile of each other. We met by accident. It is a strange story. A friend of mine, a guy I was working with, used to deliver lemonade to her brother and I was with him one day. I got chatting to her and asked ‘what are you doing tonight?’ She said ‘I am washing my hair!’”

But it was clear there was a spark between the couple and when Don went back round the following Friday and asked Doris if she’d like to go to the pictures with him, she said yes.

“We were attracted to one another,” he said. “We got married on February 17, 1951, at Lambeth Register Office. We got married on the Saturday and I went in the RAF on the Monday to do my two years - so I had a one day honeymoon!

“I then got a job in the press as a purchase account manager for IPC in Stamford Street until they moved to Sutton. Doris’ sister had contacts up here so we came to have a look at Spalding and we decided we would have a look at the pub.”

Doris added: “We have had a good life together and we like it up here. We have been happy and it doesn’t seem like 70 years! We still meet people who used to come in the pub. Moving here was the best thing we have ever done.”

Daughter Mandy was 18 when her parents took over the pub and at that time she worked behind the bar with them. Their other daughter, Christina Turnell, is the former head teacher at Weston Hills CofE Primary School and turned it into a beacon school.

The couple also have two granddaughters and a grandson.

Mandy said: “I wanted to get them something from the Queen so I got in touch with Buckingham Palace to arrange the card.”

- Anyone celebrating a milestone anniversary or 100th birthday please contact News Editor Victoria Fear on 01775 765428 or email victoria.fear@iliffepublishing.co.uk



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