(69) 'The Golden Wedding Surprise'

[Ken]

The best of the many oak table conversations held in my home are the ones that are unplanned.  It's the same with memories that evolve without forethought and lead to unexpected destinations.  One such memory recently took me hurtling back in time to my sister Glad's, Golden Wedding anniversary.  The year was 1993 and the place was the small Welsh town of Burry Port.  The memory was triggered by an email I received which gave me a link to a grand version of the old song, 'When You Were Sweet Sixteen.'

The memory begins on a cold January morning with a phone call I made to my sister Glad in response to a letter she'd sent me.  The first thing she said was the sound of my voice made her momentarily shudder as a cold chill went through her.  I remember thinking, "charming sister," but she then added that on the phone I'd sounded remarkably like my brother Wally.  It was that which had turned her cold with shock for Wally had died six years earlier.  She then said she needed to see me and later that day she arrived with her husband Jack and her son Neil.  With them was my nephew Neil's wife, Delyth, who I had not met before.  The reason for Glad's mysterious visit was to ask me to attend her Golden Wedding party, but not to tell other members of the family I was going.  At this stage I should explain that I had missed attending several of the recent family gatherings due to a shortage of cash, so my presence wouldn't be expected. Glad wanted me to say I couldn't come and then surprise everyone by actually turning up in all my glory.

It was agreed this would happen and Jack said it would pay his in laws back for a surprise they'd once played on him. So on that long ago morning we planned, with great subterfuge, how Glad could trick her relatives and make them believe that everyone, bar little brother Ken, would be at her fiftieth wedding anniversary.  The deception dictated that I would deflect any pressure from my siblings to attend.  I achieved this but I had to tell some insistent relatives a few white lies.  I know it annoyed some of my kinfolk when I said there was no way I'd be part of Glad and Jacks big day, for I didn't even want to go!

The truth was the opposite for I was looking forward to it immensely, but was sad that Jenny couldn't go. She had no choice but to stay at home with our young son, Morgan.  However, in her place we had arranged for our daughter to attend and Kathryn was as excited as I was about seeing everyone.  We'd worked out that although they'd all kept in touch at Christmas and birthdays, she hadn't seen some of her Aunts for up to eight years.  At last the big day came and after meeting up with Kathryn in the town of Carmarthen, the two of us were met by Neil and Delyth and driven the fourteen miles to Burry Port.  The rest of the family had travelled down from England the day before and were staying at the nearby Ashburnham Hotel.  It was essential to Glad's plan that Kathryn and I were not seen by them until we arrived at the Party.  So it was with great stealth and secrecy that Neil drove us to his Parents home.

We received a wonderful welcome but were quickly told what we must do if any of the English visitors unexpectedly arrived.  We were to hide ourselves away in an upstairs bedroom and to remain there until the all clear was given.  I remember thinking how seriously they were taking this and jokingly suggesting a password.  During the day some of the Welsh members of the family, the ones who were in on the secret, called to say hello.  It was particularly nice to see my nieces, Glynis and Caroline, and their husbands Ron and Gary.  Kathryn was also to meet some of her more distant cousins for the first time and  I could tell she'd made quite a hit with them.  Then followed a day of hugs and laughter for everyone, with joyful anticipation of the evening that was to follow.  In the moments before we left Glad's home for the party I thought how smart everyone was and how happy Glad and Jack were.  They had every right to feel so, for most of their family and many of their friends were waiting to honour their fifty years of Marriage.

On the way there Glad repeated that at the evenings end Kathryn would be sleeping at her house.  I would remain at the hotel where I'd share a room with my cousin Kenny Hale.  He was the only one in on the surprise and all that was needed for my overnight stay had secretly been delivered to his room.  I still do not know why Glad and Jack were so excited at my presence that evening but the thought of the surprise they were about to spring seemed to delight them. When we arrived at the hotel the plan was for them to go in first, while Kathryn and I hung back for a few minutes. We did as instructed and we heard  the welcoming commotion coming from the bar and then it was time for our entrance. We were probably smiling as we both sauntered in unnoticed, for everybody's attention was on Glad and Jack arrival. That ended when my sister Phyl spotted us and her gleeful excitement is a memory I will forever treasure!

Phyl was laughing and pointing and near to exploding with such obvious delight at seeing us.  Then Audrey was pointing at us and suddenly everyone was shouting, as Glad and Jack stood grinning like Cheshire cats.  Bob boomed, "Good to see you boy," in that voice I so love, as he vigorously shook my hand.  Then Len and Gordon were doing the same with Len saying he knew I'd come.  A pint suddenly appeared in my hand and everyone was laughing and hugging to the bemusement of the hotels other customers.  My sister Dot greeted me with a smile that lit up the room and then it was my sister Violets turn.  She kissed me and with moistened eyes told me she was glad I was there, her voice full of emotion as she smiled and hugged me.  Kathryn, who had never looked more beautiful, was getting hugs and kisses from her many Aunts and Uncles, particularly from her auntie Dot, who she'd seen so often as a child.  That night the room was overflowing with happiness and merriment as Glad and Jack looked on. Their ruse had worked perfectly!

Later that evening as we all sat in the restaurant having enjoyed a splendid meal, a few speeches were made as the wine continued to flow.  Sitting closest to Kathryn and I were Dot and Len, although everyone was close enough to talk and joke with each other.  Somebody, perhaps Neil, suggested to Glad that she sing a song that she and Jack considered their song and my sister nervously stood up and began to sing.

                                                    I love you as I never loved before
                                               Since first I met you on the village Green
                                                Come to me or my dream of love is O'er
                                              I love you as I loved you, when I was sweet,
                                                          When I was sweet sixteen.

The above is the chorus of the song of that lovely ballad, 'When You Were Sweet Sixteen.' As Glad sang the whole song to Jack, they were both recalling that they had, some fifty years earlier, actually met on a village green when Glad had been just Sweet Sixteen.  My sister sang it so beautifully and with such obvious emotion that it touched me deeply. During the song I heard Len whisper to Pam, "Jacks going to cry," and I saw that big strong Welshman look lovingly up at his wife as big tear drops ran down his face.  

To me it was proof that the love that began on that village green all those years ago was still as strong as ever.  Perhaps it touched me extra deeply for I too first met the love of my life on a village green when my Jenny was also sweet sixteen.  Jack wasn't the only one who cried that evening for so did others including me.  In the years that followed that 'Golden Wedding Surprise' I've heard that song many times.  Always my mind has hurtled me back in time to that family gathering where Glad and Jack delighted in using me to spring a surprise on the many English relatives who attended that most special of  Anniversaries!          

 

[Ken]

This most pleasant of memories was triggered when I heard an old song.  It reminded me of a surprise my sister Glad gave her siblings and of the unique role my daughter Kathryn and I played in it's success.