The Bernardis' Golden Wedding
It was on 26th July 1958 that John Bernardi and Stella Baker were wed at Kettering Parish Church in Northamptonshire.
50 years on they celebrated with 50 friends and family at a Garden Party at their home in Southwater on Sunday 27th. Guests travelled from far and wide to join the celebrations and it turned out to be the hottest day of the year in more ways than one.
The garden was bedecked with golden decorations, parasols and a gazebo. Andrew Bernardi, John’s Godson gave a violin recital of Bach music. A fun Quiz on the life of Stella and John had been prepared for guests which proved to be an ice breaker and talking point. Most people solved it, the initials of the answers forming an acrostic, GOLDEN WEDDING.
Refreshments were served by Laura, their granddaughter and her friends Cassie and Louisa, which had been prepared by Luke Selby a trainee chef and violin student of Andrew.
Poems written for the occasion by John’s sister Susan Hibling and daughter Christine Betchley were read and the toast proposed by Michael, John and Stella’s son.
There was a photographic exhibition of their life together and family albums for guests to peruse. Guests were asked to sign the special Golden Wedding Guest Book.
A request was made that there be no gifts but that a Pot of Gold would gladly accept any contributions. The donations have been used to pay for a chair for the refurbishment programme of St Leonard’s Church Horsham and the remainder divided between the Fibromyalgia Support Group for Surrey and Sussex and Diabetes UK. Stella is a fibromyalgia sufferer and created and manages the charity’s website www.fibromyalgia-south.com. John is diabetic and keen to assist in research into finding a cure.
The couple have lived in 18 different homes, travelled to over 20 countries, worked in 5, have 3 children and 1 granddaughter.
John is a retired Vicar, his last incumbency being in Ealing, London. After retirement he spent several years as an adjudicator for the Lord Chancellor on the Service Pensions Appeals Tribunals having served as a Magistrate in Birmingham and London. Stella was a teacher but in retirement has learnt web design and computer graphics. They have lived in Southwater for the last 4 years with their daughter Christine and family. John still officiates at church services, mainly at Holy Trinity, Horsham.
The main celebration was preceded by an informal party at Holy Trinity Horsham on Wednesday 23rd after the Eucharist, with sherry and an anniversary cake.
Photographs of the occasion and other related pictures can be seen at http://photobucket.com/Bernardi. These are best seen as a slideshow (click on ‘slideshow’ at top right of screen, then select ‘reverse order’. Flash Player needs to be installed on your computer in order to do this).
Our grateful thanks to Stella and John for the donation to Group funds. Tony.
 
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