Lifetime of love after whirlwind wedding
There were festivities at Sanctuary Care’s Fernihurst Nursing Home in Exmouth last week with one resident looking back over 70 years of married life with her husband as the couple celebrated their Platinum Wedding anniversary.
At 2.30pm on 19th July 1941, childhood sweethearts Cissie and Bob Milford tied the knot at St Luke’s Church in Countesswear, Exeter in what some might consider a rather hurried manner.
At the time Bob was stationed in Blackpool with the RAF but managed to get a 48 hour leave pass and headed to meet his bride to be. The journey to Exeter was a very long one, taking ten hours on the train.
They spent the morning seeking out and buying a ring, before heading off to the church to take their vows; Bob in his uniform and Cissie in a blue dress with a bouquet of pink carnations.
After the ceremony there was a reception at the Church Hall, with Bob recalling that his Mother managed, despite rationing, to acquire a ham which was too big to be cooked on the stove and had to be boiled in the wash boiler.
The following day Bob returned to his base to get back to his duties and Cissie went back to her job sewing parachutes. After the war Bob left the RAF following 5 years service to work for the Exeter Gaslight & Coke Company, now part of British Gas, where he stayed for 47 years.
The couple started a family and have two sons, Keith and Brian and now have two grandsons, three granddaughters, four great grandsons and one great granddaughter. In March 2009 Cissie moved into Fernihurst and whilst Bob still lives at home, he comes to visit her as often as he can manage.
Recalling his big day, Bob said: “It was a very special day, despite the fact that it was a bit rushed. I remember I had to go all the way to Cullumpton to get some clotted cream, but it was worth it.”
Fernihurst manager Andy Mack, said: “Bob and Cissie are an inspirational couple and I’m so pleased for them to have reached this fantastic milestone.”
Family and friends joined Bob and Cissie at the home to celebrate their anniversary where they enjoyed chatting about days gone by with a slice of cake.