GILL, HOW DID YOU AND JOHN FIRST MEET?
At my 19th birthday party.

WHEN DID YOU GET MARRIED?
August 16th 1960.

WHERE DID YOU HAVE YOUR WEDDING CEREMONY?
The ceremony was at Longlevens Church. Sadly our usual vicar, Rev Sydney Dunn, was on holiday but the vicar of St John parish church in Churchdown kindly stepped in.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE GUILDHALL FOR YOUR WEDDING RECEPTION?
My parents chose the Guildhall because Mr and Mrs Wilson, who were the resident stewards, were friends of theirs and they did all the catering at the Guildhall.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT OF YOUR BIG DAY?
The excitement of greeting all our friends and family at the reception.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ROOM YOU HAD YOUR WEDDING RECEPTION IN?
I just remember that the room was very grand with a huge fire place very elegant furniture beautifully decorated with flowers, l may be mistaken but I think it was called the Bow room or maybe Beau room.

Photograph shows the reception room, which is now our Café. We’re delighted that the room still has many of its original features.

WHAT WAS YOUR MENU LIKE?
The food was a finger buffet lots of it, delicious.

NOW, WE’VE SEEN A PHOTO OF YOUR WEDDING OUTFIT BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR A BIT MORE ABOUT IT.
I wore a full length brocade taffeta in very pale pink, made by my mother, with a veil held in place with a pink rosebud coronet.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE FEATURE OF THE GUILDHALL?
I loved the whole grandeur of the building but it was quite splendid when we left the Guildhall to go on our honeymoon and walked down the marble staircase with all our family and friends seeing us on our way.

YOU’VE JUST MENTIONED THAT YOU WENT STRAIGHT ON YOUR HONEYMOON AFTER LEAVING THE GUILDHALL… WHERE DID YOU GO ON YOUR TRIP?
We went to Scotland for our honeymoon, taking several days to get to our destination.

WE’RE SAD TO HEAR THAT JOHN IS NO LONGER WITH US. AS YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN CELEBRATING YOUR DIAMOND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY THIS MONTH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIM?
John was proud of his heritage and the city and county. He passed his exam at 11 and went to Cheltenham grammar school. On leaving school he worked as a probationer RIBA for the Dean and Chapter and continued to work in the city and county for a number of years. In 1958, when my father was Mayor, John was sworn in as a Freeman of the city which was an inherited title and one of which he was immensely proud. We moved from Gloucester in 1966 but still have family and friends living there and keep in constant touch.

It was an absolutely pleasure chatting with Gill and seeing her photos. We hope you’ve enjoyed them as much as we have.