Banbury couple who met on blind date set to celebrate 60th wedding anniversary

A Banbury couple who met on a blind date will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this week.
Ann and David Hamer celebrate 60 years together this Thursday July 30Ann and David Hamer celebrate 60 years together this Thursday July 30
Ann and David Hamer celebrate 60 years together this Thursday July 30

Ann and David Hamer celebrate 60 years of marriage on Thursday July 30, which is no mean feat, especially as Ann recalls that they met on a blind date and split up a few times before finally realising they were meant for each other. David was so dedicated to his new love that he used to cycle 11 miles to see Ann.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the fact that most of the family live away from Banbury now, Ann and David have chosen to celebrate their wedding anniversary together quietly. They are planning a family meal in mid August on the south coast where two of their children live.

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They married at the Bodicote Registry Office on July 30, 1960 with a small reception held at David’s parents house. A neighbour baked the wedding cake, and Ann wore a white flared wedding dress to mark the occasion. They lived in a flat in Malborough Road until 1963, before moving into their family home where they still live now in the Bretch Hill area of town.

David worked on steam trains and Ann worked as a nurse and it wasn’t long before the newlyweds were blessed in February 1964 with their first son Stuart, followed a couple of years later by their second son Gareth, and then a couple of years after that, youngest son Chris came along.

Despite the challenges of having a young family, their marriage has endured and they now have three grandchildren, Olivia, Alfie and Jess and two great-grandchildren, Evie and Axton.

Both Ann and David continue to keep active with practising Tai Chi during lockdown, and David has just resumed playing golf once a week with his best friend Ricky.

Although, they now enjoy a slower pace of life, and have just started growing their own vegetables.

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