It was a cold morning in Littleport on the 14th March 1959. Patricia Flack, aged 17, from Black Horse Drove was busy preparing for what would be the biggest day of her life. Today she would marry her fiancee of 2 and a half years, Tony Butcher and become Mrs Butcher.
Tony who worked in the building trade and trained as a gas fitter met Pat when she was 15 working at the Hope Brothers shirt-making factory in the village. Around this time the factory were manufacturers for the England Football Kit and eventually in the 60’s taken over by the famous British, luxury fashion brand Burberry.
Pat arrived at St George’s Church in Littleport that morning, wearing a beautiful white, velvet dress accompanied by her two bridesmaids dressed in deep pink, velvet dresses. Inside Littleport’s Parish Church, Canon Payne waited to start the ceremony with Tony and a handful of close friends and family including the couple’s parents.
The ceremony was low key followed by a reception which was lunch at the local restaurant on Granby Street. At 4 o’clock the newly-weds caught the train from Littleport to London for a small honeymoon.
Now 60 years on the couple are due to celebrate their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. Pat and I discuss the differences between the expectations of weddings in the 50’s and 60’s compared to the present day. She recalls how weddings were mostly low – key, her wedding ring costing just £2.50, her weeks wages at the time. I asked Pat the key to a long and happy marriage and she told me that couples who married in her generation, worked harder to reconcile differences and worked harder to keep their marriage happy. Clearly words of wisdom from a lady who has been married for 60 years.
Littleport Life magazine would like to thank Pat and Tony warmly for sharing the story of their wonderful marriage with us and we wish them many congratulations on their Diamond Wedding Anniversary.