A COUPLE celebrated their anniversary in style 60 years after a department store reception.
Ada Wilson, formerly Galloway, 82, and Bill Wilson, 83 of Rhyl recently gathered with family and friends to mark their golden wedding anniversary.
The Wilsons met in London in their early twenties when Ada got a job in the department store where Bill worked alongside his father.
Daughter Julie Ruffle said: “It was love at first sight. My Dad saw her and snapped her up at once. They got engaged on February 14, Valentine’s Day and because rationing was still on in 1951, they used the store at their reception.
“They covered all the boxes in the shoe department and all the glass counters in table cloths and held the buffet on them. Everybody rallied round. Ada looked gorgeous in her dress.”
The couple moved on when Bob decided to move out of his father’s shadow and set up a toy shop called Kiddies Korner in the growing town of Bracknell.
Julie said: “They worked at this shop together for a long time. My older sister Angela was one of the first to have a babygro and one of the first to have a Sindy doll. Mum was pregnant with me while she was selling fireworks. I have many happy memories when we were children helping out and playing with all the new toys.”
Economic pressures meant the store shut down and the Wilsons relocated to North Wales where they ran Denmore stores in Rhyl, which has been in the family for more than 26 years.
Julie said: “They are still devoted to each other. Maybe the secret of their long marriage is genetic - in our family we are all together as married partners.”
Both Bill and Ada have been actively involved in charity work, becoming founding members of Treasure Chest support group and charity based in Glan Clwyd hospital after Ada developed breast cancer.
Bill now acts as a speaker raising awareness of Alzhiemer’s and Dignity in Care after Ada was taken into Glen Devon care home, where the anniversary party was hosted.
He takes to the podium to talk about his experiences as a carer at the Rhyl Pavilion on August 11.
Angela Sykes said of the anniversary party: “Mum enjoyed it all too and even laughed when she heard that the Queen had written to her. All the family would like to thank everyone who contributed to making the celebrations a great success with their kindness and hard work.”