Diamond day for Phylis and Colin

Phylis and Colin Burrow were delighted to receive a card from the Queen on the day of their Diamond Wedding anniversary. NP 240408 03

A COUPLE who met at a youth rally in July 1944 have celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary.
Phylis and Colin Burrow have always been in farming and believe that they are the first couple in the Burrow family to reach their Diamond Wedding.
Phylis Bedford was a farmers daughter at Bidbeare, Bondleigh and Colin was born at Puddington, moving to Tree Farm in 1929 as a child. His family have been there since 1896.
Phylis and Colin married at Bondleigh Chapel on April 24, 1948, where Phylis was then an organist.
For the first four years of their marriage they farmed at Penson Farm, at Bondleigh before moving to Tree Farm.
Phylis continued as an organist for 69 years at Bondleigh, Littleborough and Black Dog.
Colin has been a Lay Preacher for 64 years and still takes services. He said: “We are very happy and thankful to the Lord considering Phylis has been so ill over the last year.”
They have always taken a close interest in ploughing and Colin is President of the Witheridge and District Ploughing Association. He used to compete in ploughing matches when he was younger.
They recall that they first met when Phylis had a flat tyre on her bike and Colin, being a gentleman, repaired the puncture for her.
The couple have three children Christopher, John and Ruth and five grandchildren Mark, Ian and Alice and Chloe and James.
They were delighted when, on the morning of their 60th anniversary, they received a card from the Queen.
They had many cards and flowers from well wishers and Colin said: “We were very pleased to receive a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Black Dog Memorial Committee, of which I was Chairman for a few years.”
The couple celebrated the Diamond Wedding anniversary with close family and friends at a small lunch party at the Black Dog Memorial Hall.
Nora Parminter

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