Naval Wedding Celebrated At Beaconsfield

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 281, 28 November 1945, Page 3

Naval Wedding Celebrated At Beaconsfield

SPINKS—COGGIN Bright sunshine favoured the wedding which attracted much friendly interest on Saturday, November 3, when Audrey, only daughter of Mrs. B. H. England, cf “Arotai,” Beaconsfield, and the late Mr. W. J. Coggin, “Watkins Hall” Herts, England, was married to Lieut. Robert Thompson Spinks, R.N.R., only son of Mrs. Helen Spinks, of Edinburgh, Scotland, and the late Mr. Charles Spinks. St. Mary's Church, Beaconsfield, had been beautifully decorated with large bowls of pale pink rhododendrons and lupins by friends of the bride, the ceremony being performed by Rev. F. E. Fleury, Vicar of Kimbolton. Miss Barbara Fleury played the wedding music. The bride, who ws given away by Mr. W. E. Wilson, of Longburn, looked charming in her graceful gown of offwhite embossed silk crepe de chine over pale pink. The low-waist.ed bodice had a heart-shaped neckline and elbow length sleeves and the full skirt fell to form a long train. An heirloom Brussels lace veil, which had been lent by a friend, was held to her head with a topknot of tiny white orchids and lily of the valley. ‘ She wore a necklet of pearls also a naval emblem in diamonds, a family gift, and her shower bouquet was composed of cream and pale pink roses, white lilac and lily of the valley.

In attendance as bridesmaids were Misses raulinc and Margaret Wilson, twin daughters of Mr. Wilson, of Longburn, who were dressed alike in picture frocks of white stiffened organdie over shell pink. The low-waisted bodices and short sleeves had pin-tucking and lace insertion alternating, the bouffant skirts being ground length. They wore pearl necklets?, also circlets of tiny roses and carnations in their hair and carried trailing bouquets of pink carnations and rosebuds. The best man was Lieut. R. Whatley, R.N., of Wellington, and the groomsman, Lieutenant T. K. Anderson, R.N.Z.N.V.R., of Auckland. The ushers at the church were Messrs rcter Batchelor and Gordon Graine.

The reception following was held at “Arotai,” the home of the bride’s mother, masses of Otaki pink carnations and lupins making a bridal contribution to the decorative scheme. Mrs. England received her guests wearing a turquoise blue frock with Russian squirrel cape, a brown hat and corsage of orchids. She was assisted by her nephew, Mr. Gerald Coggin, also Mrs. W. E. Wilson, who wore a brown boucle suit, brown hat and biscuit accessories with shoulder spray of brown and cream orchids. The usual felicitations were offered and the bride in true naval fashion cut the- threetiered cake (the gift of a friend) with her husband’s sworrl. The toast to the liapp3 r couple was proposed by Rev. Fleury. In lovely sunshine the guests enjoyed wandering in the beautiful grounds and admiring the wonderful view from “Arotai” over the countryside.

When the bride and bridegroom left on their honeymoon, the bride travelled in a navy linen tweed frock with a coat of hyacinth blue boucle, navy hat and accessories, also a corsage of scarlet roses. Lieut. Spinks will rejoin liis ship in due course.