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Lymington couple Roy and Pat Jennings mark diamond wedding anniversary




CHILDHOOD sweethearts Roy and Pat Jennings have marked their diamond wedding anniversary with a family celebration and day out to Exbury Gardens.

Married at St Mary’s Church in Walsall on 24th August 1963, the couple first met when Pat was training at a pharmacy and Roy was working on a building project over the road. Despite growing up in the same town, the pair had never met, but around a month into his building job Roy persuaded the home owner to ask Pat for a date on his behalf.

Diamond couple Pat and Roy Jennings
Diamond couple Pat and Roy Jennings

At the time Pat was 16 and Roy was 18, and following their first date to the cinema the pair were inseparable. “We used to go out cycling and even borrowed a tandem. If we wanted to go a little further Roy would borrow his work van for days out,” recalls Pat.

Roy proposed on Pat’s 18th birthday, and the couple enjoyed a wonderful engagement party organised by Roy’s mum.

After honeymooning in North Wales, they made their home in Caldmore, where they welcomed their daughter Ann in 1968 followed by son Ian in 1970.

When the children were young Pat ran a play school with a friend, but returned to the pharmacy when they started school. Roy continued working as general builder and bricklayer, before he began a maintenance role at Walsall Hospital.

The family enjoyed holidays to North Devon and the West Country, and after visiting family on the south coast several times they decided to move to New Milton in 1981 – fulfilling a dream of living by the sea.

Pat and Roy on their wedding day
Pat and Roy on their wedding day

Pat applied for a position as house manager of Waverley House on Station Road, where she remained for 15 years. The family lived in accommodation at the retirement home and Roy often drove the minibus for days out for the residents.

Roy moved jobs to Lymington Hospital where he was a theatre porter, and later returned to a hospital maintenance role. Spare time and holidays were spent in Milford at a static caravan they owned at Carrington Park; and coach trips were taken to European destinations.

In retirement they have enjoyed several cruises.

Roy and Pat made many friends on their coach holidays and were also longstanding members of New Milton Conservative Club. They are proud grandparents and have now become great-grandparents to Emily and Thea-May, who are both two; and Lyra who is 10.

Pat says the secret of their long and happy marriage is compromise and lots of give and take. She added: “We have had some wonderful times in New Milton – it was a good move for us and we have never looked back. We have made some lovely friends and have been very happy together.”



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