SAPPHIRE CELEBRATION FOR LEN AND LOTTIE
A GOURDON couple are celebrating 65 years of happy marriage. Len and Lottie Noke, both 87, celebrated their blue sapphire anniversary last Wednesday.
They were married in Bervie Parish Church on February 17 1945 by Reverend Theodore Andrews.
Originally from Sailsbury, Len met Gourdon-born Lottie (nee Criggie) in 1943 at an army training camp at Whitby, North Yorkshire, when he was in the Army and Lottie was in the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
Mrs Noke said: "We were engaged within six weeks! But it took us another 18 months before we got married - you didn't get much leave in the army."
After the war the couple moved to Gourdon where Len began a life as a fisherman on the Chrissie Criggie which was owned by Lottie's father, James Criggie.
Mrs Noke doesn't think there is any secret to a happy marriage, but added that their opposite personalities probably helped keep them going.
The happy pair had their postman working overtime as he delivered dozens of cards to them. They even received a special card from the Queen who wished them her congratulations.
They were celebrating their anniversary with a specially hand made cake - a far cry from their wedding day when all they had some mince pies and a cup of tea.
The couple have one son, Derick, who lives with his wife Sandra in Montrose, and a granddaughter Susan. Derick said he hopes that he will take after his parents.
He said: "I've definitely learned a lot from my mum and dad."
The couple had a small party with family and close friends at The Crown Hotel in Bervie last Saturday. Mrs Noke said: "We've been really looking forward to our party. People came up from England. There were lots of stories and reminiscing."
The couple requested no gifts to be given, but that a donation be made instead to the RNLI lifeboat charity.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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