Arundel couple’s ‘fairy tale’ marriage is relived

Last Saturday (July 28), Margaret, 66, was readying herself for what she thought would be a fairly low-key celebration of her and her husband, Peter’s 50th wedding anniversary.

Little did she know that Peter had grander plans in store for the day.

For the past few months, the 70-year-old romantic had secretly been arranging a “fairy-tale” renewal of the couple’s wedding vows, that would take them right back to their youth – an idea that would leave his loving wife speechless.

Margaret thought she was heading to a family meal as the couple left their home in Canada Road. However, the penny soon dropped as her car pulled into St Catherine’s Church, in Beach Road, Littlehampton, which was packed full of her family.

A disbelieving Margaret said: “It was like a fairy-tale. I knew we were going to have a party, obviously, because it was our 50th anniversary. But I didn’t know we were going to have this beautiful occasion.

“Everyone was there and they were all dressed up and were cheering as I walked in. It was absolutely magical.”

Margaret first met Peter when she was 14 after moving down from Manchester to Littlehampton with her family.

They were married at St Catherine’s in 1962, when Margaret was just 16 and Peter was 19.

In the minutes after their big day, the newly-weds headed to the pavilion which then stood on The Green, to have their first cup of tea as a married couple – something that was re-enacted after Saturday’s ceremony.

“We drove off in the car and went to where the pavilion used to be,” said Margaret.

“There was a beautiful set of white chairs with my grandson and his friend all smartly dressed, serving us tea with china cups. I felt like a queen. A couple of people passed us by and just looked at us and said ‘Aww, how lovely’. It was a beautiful moment.”

After the romantic afternoon tea, the pair went back to their home to celebrate with a lavish family party.

Peter said: “When we first got married, they said it wouldn’t last five minutes. Well, look at us now, 50 years down the line. It’s been incredible and the day was an amazing success. I just love Margaret so much.”

The couple have 11 great-grandchildren, eight grandchildren and three grown-up daughters.

Margaret added: “When I first saw Pete, I thought to myself ‘That’s the man I’m going to marry’. He is the only man I have ever been with and I couldn’t be happier.”