Honiton: Ron and Beryl receive card from the Queen
Couple who met at Army camp dance celebrate diamond wedding anniversary.
A HONITON couple, who struggled to arrange their first date because of work commitments, have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.
Ron and Beryl Floyd, of Jerrard Crescent, met at a dance in the gym of the former Heathfield Army Camp.
Mr Floyd, now 80, was a Corporal in the REME and Mrs Floyd, now 79, a Honitonian, worked in a laundry shop in High Street.
“We had several attempts at a date after the dance, but something always cropped up,” said Mrs Floyd.
On one occasion, Mr Floyd stood her up - because he had to take a prisoner to Shepton Mallet.
When the couple eventually started courting, they enjoyed trips to Honiton’s former cinema, the seaside and country walks.
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They were married in St Paul’s Church, Honiton, on September 9, 1950, and have three daughters - Marilyn and twins Paula and Lesley - and five grandchildren.
Lesley travelled back to Honiton from her home in Australia to help mark her parents’ 60th wedding anniversary.
A card from the Queen, a visit to the Moscow State Circus and two celebratory lunches formed part of the celebrations.
After completing his National Service, Mr Floyd moved to Honiton and worked at the former George Blay sawmills, before working as a carpenter for East Devon District Council for more than 20 years.
He said the secret of his long marriage was “contentment” and offered this advice to young couples starting out: “Give and take and don’t want everything all at once. work as a team.”
Mrs Floyd said: “We get on well with each other and always have. He is a good husband.”
