Four couples from Ross-on-Wye celebrated their golden wedding anniversaries at the weekend; Alwyn and Sue Kirby, Stan and Di James, Bill and Janet Knapper and Richard and Pam Higgs all saw-in their 50th anniversary on Saturday, April 2nd.

Sue Kirby realised that there were three other couples in Ross celebrating their anniversaries on the same date as her and her husband’s, when the couples all celebrated their silver wedding anniversaries; Sue is often asked to bake cakes for community celebrations, and, 25 years ago, the other three couples had asked her to bake a cake for their anniversary.

Sue added that Stan and Di James are good friends of her and Alwyn’s, and have been for many years; Stan and Alwyn worked together as retained firemen, and their daughters were all at primary school together.

Stan and Alwyn also used to work with Bill at the Post Office, so the men have been connected for a long time.

Stan and Di James met in the New Inn on Broad Street - it is now the Eagle Inn. It was a Jazz Club on a Saturday night. They had known of each other previously; they both worked at the Cable Works in Lydbrook. Stan asked Di to dance, and they got together; they were about 24.

They said they, the same as any other couple, would have their ups and downs, but the secret to a long marriage is give and take.

Together they have three children, their first baby was born on their third wedding anniversary. They also have five grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. “We’ve had a happy life, we’ve got a lovely family, and they all live nearby,” Di said.

Sue Kirby moved to Ross in 1962. She lived in the Hope and Anchor pub, and Alwyn was a customer there. They got engaged when Sue was 16. Alwyn asked Sue’s mother for permission, and the couple married the following April. “We were told we would only last six months, but here we are 50 years later,” Sue said.

They have two daughters, and one of them, Wendy, will celebrate her 25th wedding anniversary later this year, so the family have a great deal to celebrate. They also have three grandchildren.

They said sharing the same interests, plenty of laughter and a lot of give and take was the secret to a happy marriage. They also have a close family, and a lot of good friends in the town. They celebrated with Stan and Di at the weekend, during a series of family parties and celebrations.

Pam and Richard Higgs went out on a double date in Cheltenham one Saturday night, in around 1961. Richard decided it was time to settle down, and proposed to Pam. During the engagement the couple had to postpone their wedding for 12 months as Richard’s dad died.

After they married, Pam’s mum had a stroke, so the couple took care of her. “We had rough times like everyone else, a lot of people pack in, but you’ve just got to work through it,” Richard said.

“A sense of humour is critical,” said Pam, “And he’s got a great sense of humour.”

The couple have four daughters, and 11 grandchildren. Their eldest grandson fenced for England in the Commonwealth Games, and he now coaches the sport to other athletes.

Two of their grandchildren are getting married this year, so Pam and Richard have a few parties to look forward to.

50 years ago, the couple married at Weston under Penyard, they said the weather was awful that day, there was sleet and snow; thankfully the weather last Saturday was much nicer.

Bill and Janet Knapper met in 1960 in Wormelow Dance Hall. Janet’s cousin had set the couple up on a blind date, and they got on so well at the dance, they arranged to meet the following day; the couple, and Janet’s cousin and her partner went on a double date to Barry Island.

The couple have lived in Ross at several addresses since they married in 1966. They said that life in the town has changed a great deal: “It was more sociable, and it was a different pace of life,” Bill said.

Bill worked at the Railway and the post office, with Stan and Alwyn. He retired in 1999. Janet, who ran a training company in Cardiff, retired five years ago, and she said that while she was working, Bill would take care of her, and cook her dinner. “You’ve got to help one another the best that you can,” she said.