GOLDEN WEDDING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 287, 21 September 1950, Page 4

GOLDEN WEDDING

CANTERBURY PIONEER’S SON Formerly engaged in the carrying business at Ashburton and Christ* church, Mr G. A. Allfrey, of Jerrold Street, Christchurch, celebrated his golden wedding anniversary yesterday. He and Mrs Allfrey were married in the Methodist Church at Waimate. They are both over 70 years of age, and have been associated with the development of the province from the early days. Mr Allfrey is the son of a settler who arrived in the Charlotte Jane. Mrs T. Crum, of Bridge Street, Ashburton, is a daugnter, and another daughter is Mrs S. Johnston, formerly of Eton Street, but now resident in Christchurch. A brother of Mr G. A. Allfrey is the father of Mr A. Allfrey, a member of the “Guar dian” staff.

“My father was a blacksmith and engineer, and in addition to building the first swing bridge over the Cam River at Kaiapoi, actually built the first sod fence in Christchurch, somewhere near where the Cathedral now stands,” said Mr Allfrey in Christchurch yesterday. It was fitting that they should be able to celebrate their anniversary in Canterbury’s Centennal year, he added. All except one of Mr and Mrs Allfrey’s family of 10 are now married, and there are 27 grand-children, and 10 great-grandchildren. When operating his carrying business here and in other parts of the province. Mr Allfrey used horse wagons solely, and has vivid recollections of the very rough state and dustiness of the roads in those old days before the era of motor transport.