"Mrs and Mrs Allotments Society" celebrate

It was membership of local cycling clubs which brought Iris Easton and Dick Lancaster together. Not even Dick's National Service with The Royal Sussex Regiment in Korea could separate them.

Iris was born in Havelock Road and Dick at Rest Cottage, Thorne Crescent.

It was a snowy day when Iris and Dick married on March 1, 1958 at St Peter's Church. But it was a day celebrated by family and friends. Dick's best man was Jack Underwood and Iris was supported by her bridesmaids Irene, Yvonne, Dorothy and Margaret.

Iris was given away by her younger brother David. Her elder brother Roy was away at sea as he was in the Merchant Navy. Alice and Henry the bridegrooms parents were present and also Annie the brides mother. Iris's father - John had died sometime earlier.

Unfortunately the only surviving members of the wedding party are Dick, Iris, Yvonne, Dorothy, David and Margaret. All but Margaret will be at the 50th celebrations.

Iris was a member of the Bexhill Wheelers cycling club and Dick a member of Senlac Road cycling club.

The couple met whilst attending local cycling group meetings and this relationship required the purchase of a tandem.

Dick had served his apprenticeship as a carpenter for Doug Noble and later worked for Harry Wright and Horace Lincoln before setting up his own business.

Iris worked in Lamberts grocers in Little Common and then went to Collington Stores.

After a reception at Arscott's function room in St Leonards Road they honeymooned on the Isle of Wight.

Their first home was in Downlands Avenue until a move some years to Turkey Road.

By this stage Dick was a self-employed carpenter and joiner and a familiar sight in town with his old Morris Minor Traveller - called LHU from part of its registration number..

Iris took care of the home and daughters Dawn and Nicky.

Animal lovers, the family have always had pets and particularly loyal examples have been Bruce, Kim, Sandy, Joe and Shandy.

Iris and Dick always encouraged their daughters to participate in local activities, including dancing classes, Brownies and Guides, and entering the Gardens and Allotments Society Annual Show with cooking and crafts.

They have three grandchildren, Kurt '“ currently serving in the Parachute Regiment, Edward and Alastair. They have one great grandchild.

Recalling how they met, Iris says: "I was a member of Bexhill Wheelers. It closed and I joined the Senlac club where Dick was a member."

Dick says of the tandem: "We bought it when we were first married, before I learned to drive.

"It was a Claude Butler and, boy, didn't that go!"

The couple still chuckle about the day Dick went to help his grandfather plant his potatoes.

Dick says: "Granddad used to make his own home-made wine...."

Suffice to say that when the fresh air hit him, Dick was in no state to plant potatoes.

Iris, now 76, says: "I had to put him on the back seat of the tandem and I steered us home!"

Asked the secret of a happy married life, Iris jokes: "It's because he's out so much of the time!"

In a sense, Iris has been "married" to Bexhill District Gardens and Allotments Society for years.

Dick, now 73 and still a keen gardener, joined in 1963 and was on the committee by 1966. He has been chairman for the past 36 years and organises the society's many holidays and outings.

Society raffles are Iris' forte and at meetings she is always busy selling tickets.

They are members of Sussex County Cricket Club and attend many matches as spectators. They are members of the National Trust and enjoy visiting gardens all over the country and holidays in the UK.

Iris helped with the Brownie pack and the Guides, assisting with testing the girls for awards such as the Animal Care badge and assisted at the Bexhill High School library on a voluntary basis, listening to children who required more one-to-one input reading..

Their golden wedding will be celebrated by 58 friends and family at The Wheatsheaf in Little Common; an event Dick's mother, Alice, had wanted organised.

Alice died last September 2007but Nicky has continued to organise the day as promised.

Dick and Iris will be spending a few days in Jersey in June with the family dog, Shandy. The holiday is a present from all the family.

Dick and Iris have requested donations to St Michaels Hospice or The Sara Lee trust in lieu of gifts.