50 years of love for Len and Mary | Taranaki News | Local News in Taranaki

Many happy memories and experiences have helped Len and Mary Bovey of Stratford reach their milestone 50th wedding anniversary and the couple will celebrate their lives together at a lunch this Saturday.

The pair met at a dance in Eltham and before they married, Len used to cycle from Stratford to Lake Rotokare to visit his bride-to-be every weekend, and would always arrive with a bunch of flowers.

After three years of courtship, they were married on September 29, 1956 at what was then the Knox Presbyterian Church in Eltham.

Mary was married in a dress she made herself and her bridesmaids were also attired in clothes made by her. After they were married, the couple spent time farming in New Plymouth, before moving back to Stratford.

"There is no place like Stratford, I was born here so it seemed fitting," commented Len.

They raised four children, and are now proud grandparents to 12 and great-grandparents to eight.

"It is a great privilege to see grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It marks years well spent. Being married for 50 years is not something you set out to achieve, it just creeps up on you and it is lovely to have been together for so long," they said.

Friends of Len and Mary are invited to join them at the Ngaere Hall on Saturday, September 30, after 1pm for a cuppa to celebrate their anniversary.

Len and Mary Bovey celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday September 29.