Couple renew their vows…57 years later!
A Nuneaton couple who have been married for over half a century renewed their wedding vows on Saturday (6th October) at a special ceremony in Atherstone.
Margaret and Harold Cleaver, 76 and 82 years old respectively, decided to re-live their special day and pledge their commitment to each other 57 years after they first tied the knot, at Atherstone register office.
Their ceremony, which was held at 12.30pm on Saturday, was part of a special open day showcasing the services of Warwickshire County Council’s registration services and the ceremony room at North Warwickshire Borough Council’s headquarters on South Street, Atherstone.
The open day was all part of national Customer Service Week, which took place last week. Both North Warwickshire Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council held numerous events throughout the week to promote the councils’ services and celebrate the best in customer service.
Mrs Cleaver said: “My husband and I are both members of the local Older People’s Forum and through the forum we were asked if we’d be interested in having a renewal of vows ceremony. I was a bit reluctant at first, but my husband said yes straight away!”
Margaret married Harold in 1950, when she was 19 and he was 25, at St. Mary’s and All Saints Church in Fillongley. They met at a local dance when Harold came home on leave, having been positioned abroad during the war.
Harold originally took Margaret’s sister home, but it all worked out in the end for the couple, whose original commitment to each other has stood the test of time. They have two adopted children, a son and a daughter.
Christine Parsonage, Deputy Superintendent Registrar, performed the ceremony in her role as an official ‘celebrant’. She said: “I was delighted to perform the ceremony for Mr and Mrs Cleaver and I hope it was a very special occasion for them.
“A renewal of vows ceremony can be arranged by any married couple or civil partners who want to celebrate their union by renewing their marriage or civil partnership vows. A couple may have been together for one year or, in Mr and Mrs Cleaver’s case, 57 years!”
Trained ‘celebrants’ from Warwickshire County Council’s Registration Services can help couples put together a ceremony unique to themselves and suggest how they can make sure that special people in their lives take part in the ceremony.
They will take time to help couples choose vows, readings and poems, help involve witnesses and friends, and make sure that the couple have a souvenir certificate commemorating their special occasion.
The ceremony room at Atherstone was newly refurbished earlier this year to a high standard. It seats 40 guests and has the advantage of being situated in the centre of the town. Outside are some attractive gardens, perfect for photos.
To book an appointment with a registrar at Atherstone Register Office, call 02476 348944 or 02476 348948.