Today (Friday) promises to be a golden day for popular Saundersfoot couple, Raydene and Allan Deakin, who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Born and brought up at Vine Farm, just along the road from where they now live, Raydene and Allan, who hails from Pembroke Dock, were at school together, but did not become friends until they were teenagers. Allan was in the Navy and was home on leave when he met Raydene at a dance at the village's Old Drill Hall. The couple were engaged for four-and-a-half- years, two-and-a-half of which Allan spent serving in the Navy in the Far East, before they married at St. Issell's Church on February 16, 1957. Raydene was given away by her grandfather, while her father accompanied her mother into church. "I always said my grandfather would give me away and he did," smiled Raydene. Four bridesmaids were also in attendance, with Matron-of-Honour being her sister Rosemary Hayes. She also had three flower girls and a page boy. A reception was held at the Drill Hall. "Raydene's mother and her friends did the catering, while her grandfather supplied his own home brew, which was quite something!" said Allan. A honeymoon was spent in Downpatrick, and when Allan was demobbed the following year, his first job was building their home, Alray, The Ridgeway, with Hadyn Guy. "I went away to the Navy a Boy Seaman and came home a Leading Seaman," smiled Allan, who was a member of the winning Royal Navy Field Gun Crew for Devonport at Earl's Court in 1955. "When I was demobbed, I worked for Mr. Guy and we built our home where we have lived ever since," he added. Allan worked for Mr. Guy for 14 years, before joining SWALEC, with whom he worked until he retired due to ill health in 1997. Raydene, a keen gardener, meanwhile, worked for social services for 23 years as a homehelp and then a carer. In fact, she still works now at the age of 70 as a carer for Caldey Grange. The couple have one daughter, Jane, who lives in Hemel Hempstead, and three grandsons. The couple will be marking their anniversary with an 'open house' from 12 noon until 6 pm, when all family, friends and neighbours are invited to call in for a drink and refreshments. They ask for no presents, please, but a donation to Cancer Research, a charity close to their hearts, would be appreciated. They will also be having a celebratory dinner with their family, including Raydene's brother and sister-in-law, Roland and Ann, and their grandson Adam, who are coming over from Spain for the celebrations. When asked for their recipe for a happy marriage, both agreed it was working together and not letting anybody come between them. "We have had our ups and downs, but are very fond of each other," said Allan.
