Hereford Times - 7th January 2016 - Page 5
Hereford Times - 7th January 2016 - Page 5
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Image Details
| Date | 07/01/2016 |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Format | |
| Language | English |
| Area | Hereford Times |
| Collection Holder | |
| Date of Publication | 7th January 2016 |
| Transcription |
heretordtimescom Love conquers all By Ben Goddard 01432 845882 bgoiéherefordtimescom Twitter @‘HTnewsroom A COUPLE who hit the headlines 60 years ago when they ignored their parent’s wishes to secretly marry in Scotland have proved they did know best by celebrat— ing their diamond wedding. David Sant, now 80, and his wife Janet, 77, left Hereford for Durnfries in December 1955 after neither of their parents approved of their relationship. The couple had been to- gether a year when Janet, then 17, became pregnant and — fearing the reaction of her father ~ the pair fled to Scotland on the train. “Her father would have killed her and my mother also disapproved,” said Mr Sant. “My mother didn’t want me to marry her and thought that it was not a good family to marry into. She told Janet that I was a wonderer and would never get anywhere in life. “So we saved every penny we had. I sold my shoes, bi~ cycle and every possession I had to save up for our es- cape.” The pair had met when Da- vid charmed his future wife — then a young Miss Harris ~ after seeing her working in a city shop. He said: “Me and my friends used to go in an Italian coffee place, we all had Elvis Presley hair cuts and smoked cigarettes. “On my way home one evening I went passed a clothes shop on the cor— ner next to the church and smiled at Janet in the win- dow, so I went back later on David and Janet Sant celebrated their diamond wedding — despite the misgivings of their parents to chat to her. “When I got back she had already caught the bus home so I came back earlier the next week and waited outside. It went from there.” Despite the pair running away to Scotland, they struggled to make ends meet and returned just three weeks and three days later having married ear- lier the same day. Mr Sant added: “It was a little bit of Cinderella story as when we were running for the train in Hereford one of her heels broke. We went away on December 2 with £60 and we boarded a train to Carlisle before heading to Dumfries. “We paid for the train to Carlisle but not to Dum- fries so nobody could track where we had gone and her father came looking for us in Gretna Green. “When we got there we went up to a priest and told him our circumstances, but we couldn’t get married until December 27 as eve- rything was closed up for Christmas. He told us to pay his clerk and that nobody Thursday, January 7, 2016 THE HEREFORD TIMES arrangement and that was . it. “We got married and came back to Hereford the same ‘ day with the equivalent of , 75 pence to our name. When , we arrived in Hereford, i everybody came out to see us and it was quite an oc- casion. The Sunday Mirror national newspaper gave us . the equivalent of £1,500 for our story which kept us go- ing financially." ‘ The couple have been to- gether ever since and have two children, two grand- children and one great- grandchild. They have lived in Marden for the last five years. “My wife is the most kind and generous person who charms people as soon as she comes into a room," added Mr Sam. “Nobody thought we would be mar- ried this long and people thought we would be di- vorced within a couple of years!" i i would ever know about this i l i . l David and Janet Sant on their return to Hereford after they fled to Scotland to marry 60 years ago Show your support and Race for Life WOMEN across the county are being urged to join to- gether to get the new year off to a lively start by sign- ing up to this year’s Race for Life. Cancer Research UK is calling on women of all shapes and sizes to show cancer who’s boss by enter- ing the 5k event at Hereford Leisure Centre on Sunday, June 19. Last year, 1,335 women took part to help raise £74,414 and this year, organ- isers need 1,300 women and girls to help raise £70,000. Money raised through Race for Life allows Can- cer Research UK’s doctors, nurses and scientists to advance research, which is helping to save the lives of men, women and children. Those who sign up for 5k events in January can ben- efit from a reduced fee of £10. To enter Race for Life to- day visit raceforlifeorg or call 0300 123 0770. Women of all ages will again be running in Hereford when the city hosts Race for Life i l . {’5}: 4.4 ' .— 15. 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| Newspaper name | Hereford Times |