TWO couples who were married at neighbouring St Dogmaels chapels on the same day celebrated their golden wedding anniversaries today (Friday, September 20).

Bernard and Julia Davies of North Road, Cardigan, and Alun and Nan Rees who live at Felinban in the town tied the knot on Saturday, September 20, 1969.

Bernard and Julia were wed at Blaenwaun Baptist Chapel at 12pm, and at exactly the same time Alun and Nan stood at the altar half a mile away at Capel Degwel.

A former talented local footballer, Bernard was for many years employed in the fire department at the former RAE base in Aberporth while Julia worked at the town’s health centre before retirement.

The couple have two children, Karen who is a school leader and Gethin, now of Glanrhyd and running his own business ‘Grow It Mow It’.

Asked about their recipe for a long and happy married life together they both said it was important to have a lot of give and take.

Popularly known in the area as ‘Alun Bara’, Alun worked as a bread roundsman before retirement and Nan was for many years on the staff at Cardigan Police Station in Priory Street.

They met on a public bench at Cardigan’s Finch Square five years before the big day and on Friday took a photo call sitting in exactly the same location.

Laughingly, Alun said: “We haven’t had a cross word in 50 years, and if you believe that you’ll believe anything.”