Sarah
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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 08 Jul 1950
Page 3 Column 2
Young Folk Happier 60 Years Ago
Taunton Couple's Golden Wedding
North-street Congregational Church has played a large part in the lives of Mr. and Mrs. George PRING, of 5, Rosebery-street, Taunton, who celebrated their golden wedding on Thursday. Mr. PRING, who is 74, has been connected with the church for 70 years, and his wife, formerly Miss Harriet Elizabeth TUCKER, who is 72, about 55 years. They first met at at a young people's meeting at the church and were later married there by the Minister, the late Rev. Edwin TONGUE.
Owing to a serious accident 14 years ago Mr. PRING no longer takes an active part in the affairs of the church, but he is a life deacon.
FIRST LAUNDRY EMPLOYEE.
One of Mr. PRING's proudest possessions is a drawing-room clock bearing the inscription: “Presented to Mr. George PRING, on the occasion of his marriage by the employees of the Somerset Sanitary Steam Laundry, Ltd., July 6th, 1900.” Mr. PRING was the first employee of the laundry which opened in 1897 and he saw 40 years service before ill-health necessitated his retirement.
Mr. PRING told a Somerset County Herald reporter that he had little time for sport in his younger day – he was too busy working. His main hobby was gardening and he was formerly on the committee of the Rowbarton Allotment Holders' Association and the Adult School. Now, however, Mrs. PRING tends the garden in Rosebery-street and is very proud of the flowers she has cultivated. Another of Mr. and Mrs. PRING's favourite pastimes was walking.
FAMILY UNITY GONE.
Mrs. PRING thinks the family as a unit is dying out, “When we were young,” she said, “the whole family used to go about together and amusements used to be made in the home. Now it is usual for the children to go about on their own.” She thinks that people were happier when she was young despite their having to work longer hours. Mr. and Mrs. PRING had six sons, five of whom are living. They are all married and four of them live in Taunton. Richard and Charles served in the Army abroad during the war and Harry and William were in the Home Guard. The other son, Stanley, is clerk to the Lyndhurst Council. There are seven grandchildren.
Mr. and Mrs. PRING did not have a special celebration on Thursday. They are saving that until all the family can be together for a reunion.
<NOTES: George PRING son of Charles PRING and Susanna JARVIS, married Harriet Elizabeth TUCKER>