3rd February 2012

ILMINSTER: Estelle gets her diamond back

SIXTY years of marriage brought more than just a diamond celebration for Ilminster resident Estelle Coles.

The lucky lady was surprised by husband John with a new engagement ring to replace her original one, stolen in a burglary at their old address.

The couple held a double celebration last week, with a gathering of widowed friends at their home on their actually anniversary, Thursday January 26th and a second party for couples on Sunday at the Shrubbery Hotel. Their family attended both events.

The couple, both in their early 80s are well known in the town.

John worked for Minsterstone for 23 years before doing his National Service as a training NCO in the Royal Engineers after which he joined the electricity industry.

A keen footballer playing for several local teams in his youth, John also served as a retained firefighter for 24 years and became their national president.

He was a member of the Ilminster and District Lions Club for 15 years and is known as Ilminster’s unofficial historian due to his family history and a good memory for dates.

Estelle came to Ilminster in 1949 from Paignton to work as a civil servant in pensions and National Insurance and admits she didn’t like the change at first, but John and the community won her over and she said she now loves Ilminster and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

After time out to bring up their three girls, she went back to work at Marshalsea’s Garage before moving to Gooch and Housego and then Phoenix Engineering in Chard.

The couple met at a dance in the George Hotel and were married at the Minster, holding their reception at the hotel where they met.

Heartache hit them in 1995 when they lost their daughter Angela at the tender age of 20 after a long illness.

The couple received nearly 40 cards for their anniversary, including one from the Queen and were delighted with the gift of a family portrait of their two remaining daughters, Alison and Carolyn with their children Callum, Aiden and Abbie.

When asked the secret of a long marriage, John said respect was the key and Estelle was his great passion, despite her tiny form. In reply, she commented: “We have never really fallen out that badly, I never packed my bags.

“I was so pleased with my ring. We had gone into Stokers to look at having my other rings re-sized and I had admired this one. Unbeknown to me he sneaked back and put a deposit on it and they held it until he needed it. Everyone, including the ladies at Stokers kept the secret very well, I gave John got a signet ring as well. I was just glad to have him here, he has a bad heart and there was a time I thought he wouldn’t see this day.”

John replied: “I was determined to still be here and now I need another target.”

The couple took donations for Breast Cancer Relief and the cardiac care unit at Musgrove Park Hospital, at both their gatherings and were very pleased to have totals of £200 and £250 respectively.

Speaking on Monday the diamond duo said they had enjoyed a wonderful week, topped off by the party on Sunday and were recharging their batteries.

They would like to thank everyone for their good wishes and donations.

PICTURE: DIAMOND COUPLE - Estelle and John Coles with their new family portrait and congratulations card from the Queen