Sarah
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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 18 Nov 1961
Page 9 Column 4 and 5
MARRIED 60 YEARS, LIVED IN 11 TOWNS
Couple who have had a roving, varied life
'OURS has been a roving life together,' said Mrs. Charles LOCKER, of 65, Moorland Road, Taunton, on Monday. She and her husband had just been congratulated on their diamond wedding by the Mayor and Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs. S. H. PAYNE).
They have lived in 11 different towns during their 60 years of marriage and have mainly worked in the licensing trade.
Mr. and Mrs. LOCKER received a congratulatory telegram from Buckingham Palace signed by the Queen's private secretary.
They were both born in Bridgwater, Mr. LOCKER's father, the late Mr. Joseph LOCKER was licensee of the Malt Shovel Hotel, and Mr. LOCKER helped his father in the posting side of the business.
Flower show romance
Mrs. LOCKER was formerly Miss Leah Annie TRAPNELL and her father used to sail in the old windjammers.
Mr. LOCKER is 82 and his wife is 80. They are good conversationalists. They do not have television, but enjoy listening to the radio.
They first met at Bridgwater Flower Show, and were married in 1901. They immediately left Bridgwater to take up posts in Scotland as valet and house-keeper.
After a couple of years, they returned to Bridgwater and took over the Blake Arms Hotel. They moved to Taunton in 1905 and ran the Frieze Hill Inn for several years. When they left it was taken over by Mrs. LOCKER's sister, Mrs. P. BOND, who is still the licensee,
Several moves
After being licensees of the Cherry Grove Inn, Taunton, for a number of years, Mr. and Mrs. LOCKER moved to Burnham-on-Sea because of their only son's health, and there ran a dairy and cafe until the outbreak of the First World War.
Mr. LOCKER enlisted in the 3rd Battalion Somerset Light Infantry. After the war, they took over the Red Lion Hotel in Redruth until the tin mines closed down.
They then went to the George, at Codford, in Wiltshire, and later to The Bull at Swindon. Mr. LOCKER had to retire at Swindon through ill-health.
They then joined their son. Maurice, in Sandwich, Kent, and Mrs. LOCKER ran a cafe. They next moved to Margate where they ran the British Legion Club for seven years.
After living at Faversham for a few years, they returned to Taunton about 12 years ago.
Family parts [sic]
Mr. and Mrs. LOCKER's son, Maurice, who was educated at Dr. Morgan's Grammar School, Bridgwater, and Taunton School, died six years ago. Mr. and Mrs. LOCKER have two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Mrs. LOCKER's niece, Mrs. R. JEWEL, held a family party for her uncle and aunt at her home in Paul Street on Sunday. Other members of the family present were Mr. and Mrs. J. YARD (great niece and her husband); Mr. and Mrs. E. CHARD (of Newton Abbot) and Mr. and Mrs. T. DAVEY (nieces and their husbands), and close friends. Their doctor, Dr. P. CARTON, paid them a social visit.