Couple To Celebrate Platinum Wedding

Press, Volume C, Issue 29536, 10 June 1961, Page 2

Couple To Celebrate Platinum Wedding

An ambition to pay a return visit to Britain might yet be fulfilled by Mr and Mrs Janies Lamberton, of Linwood, who will celebrate their sixtyfifth wedding anniversary tomorrow. “You never know—we are still going strong,” they said yesterdy. Since their marriage they have lived in 33 different parts of New Zealand and have travelled extensively in Australia. Most of their travelling was connected with Salvation Army work. They joined the movement in 1897, a year after their marriage, and both rose to the rank of ensign officer. “Our years in the Salvation Army have been the happiest years of our lives,” said Mrs Lamberton yesterday. When they joined, the movement was very much in a pioneering stage. They remembered the lantern slide shows they used to give, and the large amount of visiting and social work. Drapery Shop After many years' service. Mr and Mrs Lamberton resigned and went to live in Hastings, where Mr Lamberton had a furniture manufacturing business. At the same time Mrs Lamberton ran a drapery shop. Her interest in needlework continues. "I have done every kind of fancy-work except tatting, which I am still learning.” she said. She cannot .sit with her hands idle and crocheted cushions and rugs, point lace, embroidery and painted plaoues testify to her skill. After their retirement, Mr and Mrs Lamberton continued to travel round New Zealand before settling in Christchurch, where most of their family live. They have six children. 20 grandchildren. and 15 great-grandchild-ren. They have been in Christchurch for the last four years. Mr Lamberton, who is nearly 92. still holds a driving licence. “According to the traffic authorities I am their oldest driver—and with a clean record too,” he said. He hopes to drive to the West Const, to the anniversary of Blacks Point School, near Reefton, in September “I went to the Reefton School before the Govern-

tnent took it over. It was run by a Mr Brown, who took 200 pupils for 3s 6d a quarter,” he said.

Mr and Mrs Lamberton both came to New Zealand at a very early age, Mr Lamberton from Kilmarnoch, Scotland, and his wife from Yorkshire. Their families moved to the West Coast, and they were married in Taylorville in 1896. A gathering of friends and relations will join them tomorrow to celebrate the anniversary.