News
Blue Sapphire Anniversary at Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium
15/04/08
After 65 years together, one Birmingham couple are proof that the tradition of marriage hasn’t gone to the dogs.
Gladys and James Goddard celebrated their Blue Sapphire Anniversary with their family at Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium.
The loving couple, of Thornbury Road, Erdington, met during World War Two (1942), when Mr Goddard was based at RAF Farnborough in Hampshire and Mrs Goddard was in the WAF.
A year later, in 1943, they were married at Birmingham Town Hall.
But Mr Goddard, who is originally from Yorkshire, was then posted to Wiltshire. When they were reunited they settled in Birmingham, where Mrs Goddard was born and bred.
Gladys Goddard, aged 84, and her husband, now 85, have four children, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
They were guests of honour in an executive suite at Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night (April 12).
And the stadium surprised the happy couple by naming a race in their honour, so that they presented a trophy to the winning owner, as their anniversary was announced to more than 2,000 people.
They also got a congratulatory card from the Queen, giant 65th anniversary balloons, a celebratory cake and a bouquet of flowers from the Post Office where Mr Goddard used to work.
Mrs Goddard said: “It was lovely to have all the family together and we love going to the dogs, we have had some lovely food and a few winning bets so it has been a great night.”
Mrs Goddard said the secret to their successful marriage was give and take, a lot of love and understanding.
She added: “We have enjoyed our lives together and the family are very good, we are very proud of them.”
Their son, Keith Goddard, said: “We are all extremely proud of mum and dad and it was nice to celebrate their achievement together at Perry Barr, which gave us a really great a night out.”
ENDS
For more information please contact Clive Reeves on 01543 501111 or email clive@wardlovett.com