A loving couple who\u2019ve enjoyed 65 years of marriage got the surprise of their lives when a Wrexham care home threw them a bumper anniversary bash.<\/p>\n
Cyril and Shirley Williams were bowled over by the touching celebration organised in secret by staff at Pendine Park\u2019s Bodlondeb care home in cahoots with the couple\u2019s delighted family.<\/p>\n
For the past five years Cyril, 85 has been a resident of Bodlondeb and Shirley, 87, is a regular visitor.<\/p>\n
Unknown to the couple, it was even arranged for two of Cyril\u2019s sisters, who were bridesmaids at their wedding, to attend the party.<\/p>\n
Other close friends were also invited to join family members for a celebratory photograph with everyone gathered under a colourful banner emblazoned with the declaration \u201865 years of love\u2019.<\/p>\n
Bodlondeb deputy manager Arlene Elano said: \u201cCyril and Shirley have become a much-loved part of our Bodlondeb family. Reaching a 65th anniversary is such an amazing achievement that we wanted to do everything possible to make it an unforgettable day.\u201d<\/p>\n
The couple\u2019s son, Craig Williams and their daughter Tracey Challinor, said staff and fellow residents made it a \u201cmagical occasion\u201d full of music, poetry, festive decorations, floral bouquets and a delicious party buffet including anniversary cake.<\/p>\n
Craig said: \u201cEveryone here at Bodlondeb deserves a big thank you for all the hard work they have put in. It\u2019s been a tremendous party atmosphere creating some wonderful new memories.\u201d<\/p>\n
Because a 65th year of marriage is signified by blue sapphires, the residents\u2019 lounge at Bodlondeb was adorned with balloons in different shades of blue, along with decorative streamers and vintage photographs of the couple, including of their wedding day. They even provided a tiara and congratulatory blue sash for Shirley to wear.<\/p>\n
Arlene said: \u201cWe wanted to make them feel like a king and queen for the day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Using old black and white photographs set to music staff created a video of the wedding at St Bartholomew\u2019s Church, Old Sealand Road, near Chester, on February 27, 1960.<\/p>\n
Former bridesmaids Shirley Stanbridge and Sue Mortimer said the film evoked vivid memories of a very happy occasion in all their lives.<\/p>\n
Shirley was 14 and Sue aged 11 when they were bridesmaids.<\/p>\n
Shirley said: \u201cI can\u2019t believe that 65 years have passed. These two are role models for us all, still as much in love now as they were six decades ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following the 1960 wedding ceremony a reception was held for 70 guests at the Custom House Hotel, Connah\u2019s Quay, followed by an evening gathering at the Old Queen\u2019s Head, Chester.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on it Shirley said she was thrilled that 65 years later the weather turned up good for the anniversary.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cI woke up to a lovely sunny morning, just like I did on my wedding day. I couldn\u2019t have been more pleased.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shirley still lives in the family home in Sychdyn, near Mold, which she shared with Cyril for many years following the birth of their children.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cCyril was originally from Chester \u2013 26 Seller Street. We met when I started working in Chester. I was a window-dresser at Woolworths. In his younger years Cyril was part of a crew tasked with putting up pylons in the north of Scotland.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter that he worked up and down the country. We travelled around quite a bit in the early years as a result of his electrician\u2019s job, living in Kent for a while before moving back up to Marbury and eventually settling in Sychdyn when the children came along.\u201d<\/p>\n
When they first met they discovered they both shared a love of pigeon racing, which has lasted throughout their married years.<\/p>\n
Shirley said: \u201cI still have some of our birds, though they are too old to race now. Cyril was a keen pigeon racer when I first met him and my father also kept pigeons, so we immediately had something in common. We belonged to the local clubs and our birds won many awards over the years, taking part in prestigious races.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cyril moved to Bodlondeb as his health began to seriously decline in 2020 and daughter Tracey said: \u201cWe are grateful to everyone at Bodlondeb for their kind welcome and making him so comfortable.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a relief to know dad is in good hands here and the way the team work so hard to create a real family atmosphere is commendable. Days like today become extra special for us and all the staff at Bodlondeb appreciate that. They really have gone the extra mile to help us celebrate such a momentous anniversary.\u201d<\/p>\n
The party included a performance from Bodlondeb\u2019s own \u2018boy band\u2019 \u2013 carers Emmanuel dela Cruz, Alejandro Mendozw and Jerry Sevilla \u2013 who sang a moving rendition of the Kenny Rogers hit song, Through the Years.<\/p>\n
Four talented youngsters, Ace Elano, Astrid Elano, Ethan Madison Vinaz, and Judy Mae Tecson, then sang the Frank Sinatra favourite, Something Stupid.<\/p>\n
Pendine Park is also celebrating a major milestone this year, its 40th<\/sup> anniversary, and a different commemorative activity is being held each month, the most recent being having been a poetry competition on the theme of love.<\/p>\n Arlene said: \u201cCarers, residents and families all contributed ideas to the writing of four poems. We thought it a great idea to read them out on the occasion of Cyril and Shirley\u2019s anniversary as they offer such a shining example of the meaning of true love.\u201d<\/p>\n A hand penned and decorated copy of one of the poems was also presented to the couple as an anniversary gift.<\/p>\n Bodlondeb manager Ann Chapman added: \u201cWe are always amazed to see the love between two people who have stood so loyally by each other for so many years. We feel privileged to have become part of Cyril and Shirley\u2019s extended family and to have played a role in their 65th anniversary celebrations.\u201d<\/p>\n