An Isle of Wight couple will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary - 50 years - today (Friday, October 6), after meeting as colleagues at International supermarket in Ryde when they were 16.
Maurice and Paulette Dyer married at St James Church in Ryde on October 6, 1973, enjoying a reception at the London Hotel.
Their wedding cake was made as a gift by Island Bakeries (formally of Binstead), as many family members worked there.
Paulette had been a pupil at St Catherine's 'open air' school in Ventnor in the 1950s and early 1960s, having been sent there from Bournemouth due to severe childhood asthma.
She remembered that the children did not receive a lot of treats and were delighted when a cake was donated, so the day after their wedding, they took the cake to the school for the children to share.
Maurice recalls that their married life almost didn't make it past a week, as he forgot to take the name of their hotel in Paris on their honeymoon and spent a long time walking the streets until he remembered!
The couple have had a happy and fulfilling life on the Island - they have two daughters, Michaela and Helen, and spend a lot of time with their three grandchildren, Ben, Harry and Beth, and still take them on holiday with them every year.
Paulette worked at Binstead Primary School as a special needs assistant for many years until her retirement.
She remains busy with her friends, family, and her many craft activities, including her friends at Ryde Library.
Paulette has raised a significant amount of money for charity, particularly Macmillan, via their annual coffee morning. Her cakes are infamous, and she is in charge of every family birthday cake!
Maurice, an aeroplane fanatic, worked for Britten Norman at Bembridge Airport for most of his life and has been chair of the Hornets Model Flying Club on the Island for many years.
He now volunteers with the Wight Aviation Museum and was part of the team that rebuilt an original Islander aircraft over the past five years.
Living in Binstead, Maurice and Paulette were hugely helpful to local NHS teams during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Maurice volunteering at the Riverside vaccination hub during the peak of the pandemic.
They will celebrate with their grandchildren at the weekend - but this time they will be able to eat their own cake!
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