A COUPLE celebrating their Golden Wedding anniversary turned back the clock by renewing their vows — on the same date and time and at the same venue as their marriage.
John and Olive Knight, from Hatton, tied the knot at St Mary’s Church, in Marston on Dove, on Saturday, September 15, 1962 at 3.30pm.
Precisely half a century later, the couple renewed their wedding vows, watched by around 20 of the guests who were present the first time around, including two of the bridesmaids and one of the page boys.
Their daughter, Lynda Knight, told the Mail: “They were thinking about ways to celebrate their anniversary when mum suggested because it fell on a Saturday, just like their wedding day, they could renew their vows at the same venue.
“It was absolutely wonderful, really lovely, and the sun was shining. It was very emotional and everyone was really excited and said what a nice day it had been.
“It’s not something that happens very often and to make it to 50 years these days is special enough on its own even without celebrating it like this.” Mr Knight, originally from Uttoxeter, met his bride-to-be when they both worked at Egginton Dairy, the couple setting up home in Hatton, Mrs Knight’s native village, where they have lived ever since.
He went on to work at Clayton Equipment, in Scropton Lane, making locomotives for the mining industry, before founding his own window fitting business, while she worked as a cook and cleaner at the former Hatton Secondary Modern School, in Station Road.
Mr Knight, 71, and his 72-year-old wife, went on to have three children, Lynda, Garry and Diane, and five grandchildren.
The couple, who enjoy sequence dancing and holidays abroad, will enjoy a second honeymoon when they head off on a cruise to the Canary Islands in November.
The retro-themed wedding continued with an evening event at Doveside Club, in Hatton — the same venue as their original wedding reception.
Meanwhile the ceremony included the same hymns as at the couple’s wedding, Love Divine and Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us — after the couple thought better of Mr Knight’s original suggestion that they walk down the aisle to the strains of the Cliff Richard song We Don’t Talk Anymore.
