GEORGE and Eileen Raymond celebrated their golden wedding with a party for relatives, friends, staff and fellow residents of Bymead House in Charmouth.

The couple, aged 99 and 93, now live in the home but they both came from Beaminster farming stock.

They were married on May 5, 1962, at St Mary’s Church in Beaminster by the Rev JS Arthur with a reception held at the White Hart Hotel for 120 of their nearest and dearest. They spent their honeymoon in Jersey.

For many years George lived at Chantry Farm and then Hewstock, farming with his father Walter and brother Ernie.

He was also a milk retailer delivering milk to many households in Beaminster, helped after their marriage by Eileen.

During the war George was a member of the Home Guard and was recruited to join a secret local auxiliary unit trained to carry out guerrilla warfare and sabotage in the event of a German invasion.

Eileen lived and worked with her parents Richard and Ivy Payne at North Dibberford Farm.

Before the war she and her mother had a refreshment kiosk in Eype during the summer and she took an active part in Beaminster Young Farmers Club, of which she was a founder member.

Before her marriage Eileen moved to Beaminster to live and worked at Hodges Bakery.

Eileen always loved dogs and with her elkhounds travelled many miles to exhibit at dog shows, including Crufts.