The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A Spalding couple are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary in the same place they celebrated 60 years ago.
Barbara (nee Godby) and Frank Lawson married at Moulton All Saints’ Church on March 23, 1963.
They lived with Barbara’s uncle George Clark until they saved £250 deposit for their £1,500 three bed home on Hannam Boulevard, Spalding.
Frank worked at JT White’s, Geest Transport, Smedley’s and had his own transport lorry.
Later he was the owner of The Gravy Train which served food on the Sheep Market car park at weekends and Thursday and Friday evenings.
Barbara supervised at Hortico children’s nursery and was a day supervisor and lollipop lady serving Spalding County Primary School.
That was after bringing up their three children, Andrew, Michelle and Damian.
Eldest son Andrew sadly died aged 46 with cardiomatherapy after being born in 1965.
Barbara (80) and Frank (81) have four grandchildren, Jake, George, Jodie and Jamie and recently a great-granddaughter in Jersey.
Now living on Westerly Way, Peggy enjoys visiting friends while Frank likes being in the garden and playing cribbage and bowls for the Royal Mail Cart.
They’re celebrating at Moulton Village Hall, the village Barbara grew up in on Saturday, March 25 where they had their first reception which cost £23.50 for 70 guests before the honeymoon in London.
Barbara said: “We have a full and busy life, lots of good friends and we appreciate both being well enough to enjoy our life and being able to help people not as fortunate as we are.”
When asked what the secret of a long marriage is, Frank jokes “keep arguing”.
“We just pull together when we need to,” he said.
