David and Lynne Townsend will commemorate an incredible 60 years of marriage on March 19, after the pair met in the sixties.
Unlike most love stories, theirs began with a blind date – something that many would believe rarely goes to plan. Meeting at a friend’s 21st birthday celebrations at the Pelican Club on Barry Island, it wasn’t exactly love at first sight for the pair, but it began to develop into something wonderful.
When they met, Mr Townsend was a motor mechanic and Mrs Townsend worked as a secretary in an engineering firm – not exactly similar jobs in close industries, but Mrs Townsend’s father’s career as a motor mechanic meant she had more of an understanding of her partner’s job than first thought.
The couple would marry at Bethel Baptist Church in Barry on March 19, 1966, in a traditional ceremony led by Rev Blake Hemmings. Both were youth leaders at this church in their younger years, so there truly was no better place for them to marry.
Their reception took place at the Ship Hotel before the pair would travel north to Scotland for their honeymoon.
The Townsends would decide to travel here as Mrs Townsend was built in a small town named Montrose, a small town just outside Dundee. Her family moved to Barry during the war as her father was needed in St Athan and they never returned. She was only three months old at the time and had never had chance to see the family they had left behind, so used this as an opportunity to visit many and explore the east coast.
Now, the couple have a son Andrew, daughter Donna and three wonderful grandchildren with whom they are lucky enough to share their lives.
When asked what the key to a long and happy marriage like theirs was, Mr Townsend said: “I think a strong Christian faith.”
Mrs Townsend would continue, saying: “You have to work at marriage – you make a promise and you have to stick to it if you can.”
The Townsends will be celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary with a part for family at friends at a local bowls club, this weekend.
