A COUPLE marked their golden wedding anniversary this month by returning to the Hog’s Back Hotel where they held their marriage reception half a century earlier.

Jenny and Neil Paterson married at St Andrew’s Church in Farnham on August 12, 1967, and the couple, who now live near Havant, in Hampshire, were delighted to be able return to Farnham to celebrate the marvellous achievement.

Jenny told the The Herald: “It was a lovely experience - the staff at the hotel were wonderful and we were treated like royalty.”

Richard Powell, general manager of the hotel, said: “We were honoured to welcome Mr and Mrs Paterson back to the hotel 50 years to the day they had their wedding reception here.

“It was wonderful to be able to look at the couple’s wedding photo album and the team discussed how the hotel had looked in 1967.

“We did a tour of the hotel and stopped at the same spots which the couple had done on their wedding day, including in the bay window of the ballroom where the speeches were made, and on the steps looking out to the beautiful views of the Surrey Hills.”

The couple remember their wedding day fondly, despite the bridegroom’s comically late arrival at the church. Neil was delayed because his brother, also his best man, had been tasked with retrieving his wife’s hat from London, only hours before the marriage ceremony.

This last-minute delay meant that not only were the pair very late for the ceremony, but also that the best man found himself composing his speech in the car on the way to the church.

Fortunately there were no further hitches on the day itself and the best man’s speech was very well received.

Jenny added “it was a very special day” and her husband’s late arrival only served to make the day even more memorable.

The happy couple met as students in Portsmouth and were together for several years before eventually tying the knot in Farnham, Jenny’s hometown.

Their first son, Alexander was born in 1972, and in 1974 Jeremy was born.

Jenny said that she and her husband have had “an amazing life together”, which has included adventures around the world and spells living in New York and Kiev.

In New York, Neil worked as an accountant and Jenny taught at an international school in the city.

In 1989, following two years in the US, the couple relocated to Kiev, merely three years after the infamous Chernobyl disaster and as the Berlin Wall fell.

Jenny said “it was a scary, turbulent time”, as they were even followed by the KGB, adding “it was a little different to New York!”.

Returning to the UK, Neil began working at St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester, while Jenny became a lecturer in the town. Neil took up the role of honorary treasurer for the local residents association.

Reflecting on their 50 years together, Jenny said the secret of a happy marriage was “tolerance, patience and communication”.

The Patersons are looking to the future too, with a further golden anniversary party planned for August 28.

Both are avid tennis players, both lawn and real tennis, and intend to continue playing regularly.

The pair’s love of travelling is as strong as ever, with Jenny telling The Herald that in the future she and Neil hope to visit the Rockies and see the northern lights in Canada.

Jenny and Neil look forward to spending more time with their family, now including grandchildren, of whom they are “very proud”, as well as many more happy years of marriage.