Holt couple's diamond date (From Wiltshire Times)

Holt couple's diamond date

10:59am Friday 5th February 2010

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A couple from Holt have spoken of their pride in and gratitude for their family as they celebrate 60 years of marriage.

Frank and Barbara Bodman, of Green Close, Holt, were married at St Paul’s Church in Staverton.

They celebrated their 60th anniversary with a party on Saturday night at the Bustard Club in Trowbridge, where they also marked both their ruby and golden wedding anniversaries.

Mrs Bodman, 81, said: “Our grandchildren have been wonderful. They have organised everything themselves.

“There were about 70 friends and relations there to see us.

“The Bustard has been our club all these years. We were worried that it was going to close down a while ago, so we were very glad to have our diamond wedding party there.

“Our family have been lovely and have helped us keep together for so long. Because they mostly live locally, they can come and see us every week. We are very proud of them all.”

The couple have three sons, four granddaughters and a grandson, and nine great-grandchildren.

They first met on a bus travelling to the theatre in Bath to see Holiday Inn. After they married they moved into a pre-fabricated house on the outskirts of Holt.

Mrs Bodman said: “We lived in the pre-fab for the first eight years after we got married, and then we moved across the way to where we are now. We are very happy here and have never wanted to move. The village is very beautiful.”

Mr Bodman, 83, said: “We have had our ups and downs but you have to weather the storms to keep together. We like to see the family and look after our great-grandchildren. They bring us a lot of joy.

“We have had some lovely holidays. For our 50th anniversary we went to Barbados on Concorde for a week.”

Mr Bodman was born in Keevil and went to Keevil School. He joined the Royal Navy in 1943, and was stationed in the Far East until 1946, although he did not see action.

He returned to work at Chapmans, now Airsprung, in Cradle Bridge and then spent 33 years at Avon Rubber in Melksham.

Mrs Bodman was born in Trowbridge and after attending Nelson Haden School she worked as a cashier at Taylor and Son drapers and then at CS Bowyer funeral directors for 22 years.

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