Welcome to Kent House Leisure Gardens

... on their 70^th Wedding Anniversary.  March 24^th 2010

The function room of Wesley Hall was decorated with silver-toned balloons, flowers and a banner “Congratulations on their 70th wedding anniversary to Helen & George Phillips”, and there was a gathering of old friends from both the Church – where they had been married back in 1940 on Easter Day, and also from the Allotment, as well as offspring, their families and great grandchildren, to mark this auspicious occasion.

George walked into the reception, to applause, and Helen’s face almost split in two with her broad smile of pleasure. They had not been given any foreknowledge of this event, it was a complete surprise to both of them. Happily, they were delighted to meet all their friends and relatives.

The room had been loaned to us for the occasion, and the KHLGA committee members and friends made sure the tables were well loaded with food and drink, and there was a cake for the centrepiece, which was ceremoniously cut by the Bride and Groom.

Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, adorned with his grand gold chain of Lewisham, made a short speech, and presented the happy couple with first of all a large jar of sweets, (because of Helen’s habit of rationing such sweets to the Association members she would meet on Sundays). The Association asked him to present each of them with a gift in platinum to mark their 70th, a necklace for Helen and cuff links for George. They were very graciously accepted, and Helen made a speech of thanks, and gave a short history of how she and George married on Easter Sunday, and how he had been sent abroad the following day with the Royal Army Medical Corps - because George 'wanted to heal, not to kill'. She described his experiences in a prisoner-of-war camp following Arnhem, and his return home, barely recognisable having lost nearly half his weight.  The room was deeply moved as we heard her clear, quiet voice recollect the sacrifices their generation had made.

The SLP interviewed Helen and took photographs of the occasion, which had been scheduled to last one hour, because we didn’t want to tire George, and which went on until 3.00 p.m. to everybody’s satisfaction.

We all wished them happiness as they left for lunch at their favourite cafe in Sydenham, The Chef’s Delight.

Anne, Tim

While the party continues ...

Helen is onto the South London Press!