Horsham couple told ‘it will never last’ set to mark 70th wedding anniversary

A Horsham couple who recall being told ‘they’re too young to marry, it will never last’ are set to mark 70 years of marriage.
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Rodney and Daphne Burstow (nee Elliott) – who have lived in the same house in Longfield Road for 65 years– will celebrate their platinum anniversary on Wednesday, March 31.

Rodney – who is is 90 years old and was born in Roffey – and 87-year-old Daphne, who grew up in Warnham, tied the knot at St Margaret’s Church in Warnham in 1951.

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Rodney was on leave from his National Service in the RAF when he met Daphne in 1949. They had their first date at the Ritz cinema on Christmas Eve. Rodney had started on the railway on steam engines when he was 15.

Rodney and Daphne Burstow, from Horsham, on their wedding day in 1951 and outside St Margaret's Church, Warnham, on Mother's Day just gone SUS-210322-124654001Rodney and Daphne Burstow, from Horsham, on their wedding day in 1951 and outside St Margaret's Church, Warnham, on Mother's Day just gone SUS-210322-124654001
Rodney and Daphne Burstow, from Horsham, on their wedding day in 1951 and outside St Margaret's Church, Warnham, on Mother's Day just gone SUS-210322-124654001

After they married, he returned to the railway and was a train driver based at Horsham until he retired. Daphne had various jobs locally, including working at Christ’s Hospital school and Woolworths. She became a full-time mother to twins in 1955, and their third daughter arrived ten years later. When the children were older, Daphne worked in Timothy Whites in West Street.

Since retiring they have enjoyed many holidays and cruises as well as spending time in their garden and with their family; daughters Deirdre, Denise and Diane, seven grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild, all of whom live in Sussex.

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