Without parish responsibilities Mum and Dad were able to visit some of the places they wanted to see. Some of them are listed here.

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They enjoyed visiting family and getting to know their increasing number of grandchildren (all boys) in Nottingham, Tiverton and Cardiff. They would look after the grans and made a point of taking each of them on a little break, usually to London. Mum even took one of them on a trip to Germany.

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In 2000 they celebrated 50 years of marriage with a meal for family and friends in Nottingham. Many family members were there - and Ella, who had been at their wedding so many years before.

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They were very close. When you were staying you would often hear them laughing together at some joke or anecdote after they'd gone to bed.