Hastings couple Mildred and Rodney Pelling to celebrate 70th Platinum wedding anniversary
A Hastings couple will be celebrating their Platinum wedding anniversary next month.
Mildred and Rodney Pelling, both 90, tied the knot on December 1, 1956 at Mount Pleasant Congregational Church, in Mount Pleasant Road.
Their reception was held at the Royal British Legion Hall in Haig House, Station Road.
The couple first met at a dance hall.
When they first met, Mildred, who was born in Broomgrove Road, worked at Pullman Press.
Rodney, who was born in Cornwallis Gardens, was serving a five-year stint in the Royal Air Force, 511 Squadron, Transport Command.
After marrying, they moved to Swindon, Wiltshire, where Rodney was stationed at RAF Lyneham.
The couple returned to Hastings in 1968 after moving around in Sussex and Kent.
The couple's family said Mildred and Rodney have held key fundraising roles for Hollington School, William Parker School and the Army Cadet Force.
Mildred has also helped the Friends of the Conquest raise funds.
The couple both helped raise funds to refurbish the War Memorial in Alexandra Park.
Mildred has chaired the RBL Women’s Section, Hastings, served as secretary of the Royal British Legion, Hastings branch and has been the Legion's representative on the Hastings Joint Council of Ex-Services Association.
Rodney has served as branch chairman of the Hastings Branch of RBL.
Mildred has sold poppies for the RBL since she was 11 and was the Poppy Appeal organiser from 1990 to 2012.
Rodney has served as chairman of the Joint Council of Ex-Service Men and is currently vice-chairman of Headcorn RAFA.
Both received the Order of 1066 Award for exceptional services to the town in October 2012, which was the first and only time the award had been given to a couple, their family said.
During their 70-year marriage they have had four children, one of whom was still born, six grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
Giving their secret to a long, happy marriage, they said: “Tolerance, all couples have ups and downs but it’s about working your way through it together.”