Plymouth couple celebrate special anniversary
A former Plymouth couple have celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary with a throwback to how they first met.
John and Isobel Dowling, who both moved to The Lodge, a specialist care home for older people and those with dementia within Buckshaw Retirement Village, Chorley, celebrated their anniversary at a special war veterans Christmas lunch.
John, who now has dementia, and Isobel met in Dundee during the Second World War. John broke his ankle during training in Dundee and Isobel nursed him back to health, and they have been inseparable ever since. During the war John, who was originally from London, worked as a signaller for the royal marines, including working with Morse Code and flag signalling.
John and Isobel’s daughter, Maggie Harrison, who is 68, said: “My parents are a fantastic couple and are still very much in love. It was a great relief when we found out they could live together at The Lodge as my dad can now receive the specialist care he needs whilst still living in a homely setting with my mum.
“The veterans Christmas lunch is a fantastic environment for them to spend their 72nd wedding anniversary as it gives them the chance to reminisce on how they first met with other veterans. Even though my dad has dementia, he still tells stories of the war and his time in the Royal Marines and looks back on the time he spent courting my mum.”
After several failed attempts to tie the knot due to John’s commitment to the Royal Marines during the war, John and Isobel went on marry in Dundee in 1944 before travelling and eventually settling down in Plymouth.
Due to the bombing damage following the war, housing was very limited in Plymouth, and John and Isobel lived in a caravan for a number of years. Isobel was a housewife, and John established himself as a self-employed newsagent delivering to small villages in Dartmoor, and eventually opened his own shop on the Royal Marine Barracks at Bickleigh and in later years opened two newsagent shops on Union Street in Plymouth.
The happy couple then went on to have children Helen Maggie Ian and Sally. Tragically, Ian passed away when he was 18 months old from leukaemia and Sally passed away at nine years old from spina bifida.
John and Isobel moved to Chorley to live at The Lodge, and now enjoy spending their time with other residents, taking part in the activities and entertainment at the home and visits from their children, five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
