SILK HAT'S ROMANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20028, 18 August 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

SILK HAT'S ROMANCE.

SOUVENIR OF A WEDDING.

Sixty-seven years ago Mr. David Jlaynor Hicks, who now lives at Barking, led his blushing bride to the altar. On that momentous occasion the bridegroom proudly wore a silk top hat. Mr. Hicks is now 90 years of age, and liis wife five years younger, and through all their 'wedded life they have cherished as a souvenir o£ their happy nuptial day the silk " topper." It was somewhat faded when they produced it on the anniversary of the ceremony tho other clay, but the old couple would not part with it for untold gold. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks havo living eight children, 28 grand-children, and 24 greatgrandchildren. They have resided at Barking for 60 years, and in one house for more than 30 years. "My husband was a farm hand near Southend then," related Mrs. Hicks, in recalling her wedding day, " and ho has told me that lie vowed he would mako me his wife the first time ho saw me. " David was only earning lis a week, and, as our marriage cost i2s 6d, I havo always said ho borrowed the other Is 6d. I wore a long pleated skirt arid a most becoming bonnet with a mauve bow to tie up my .plait behind. There were no knees to show then, and if a modern bride had appeared in modern dress she would have been arrested, I am sure."