Wedding snaps show family link to church

Photographs of three generations of the same family who were married at a village church will be included in an exhibition.

Mrs Betty Godber (81) of Radley Road, Halam, was married at St Michael’s Church, Halam, on September 20, 1952, following in the footsteps of her parents, Mr and Mrs James Birch, who were married there in August, 1924.

Her parents’ wedding photograph is likely to be unique among those in the exhibition because theirs was a double wedding.

Mrs Godber’s mother, Miss Victoria Stubbs, shared the wedding ceremony with her sister, Miss Dorothy Stubbs, who was married to Mr Sidney Crilly.

Mrs Godber’s daughter and youngest son were also married at the church and photographs from each wedding will soon appear in a celebratory exhibition organised to raise money for a new church organ.

Couples who were married at the church or people whose parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents were married there are being asked to come forward with their photographs.

It is hoped the pictures will form an exhibition at the church later this year.

Parishioners have so far raised nearly half the £40,000 total needed for the organ.

Mrs Godber and her husband, the late Mr Peter Godber, had to delay their wedding, originally planned for September 6, because of Mr Godber’s duties with the RAF.

His squadron, the Queen’s Colours Squadron based in St Athens, South Wales, was preparing for the Battle of Britain day celebrations, due to take place on September 20.

The couple met when they were both in the Observer Corps at Claypole.

Mrs Godber received a call from her husband-to-be on the Wednesday before the wedding to say he would not be able to make it.

But his padre managed to get him released from his duties and the wedding was rearranged for September 20.

Mrs Godber, who was a Guide leader with 1st Newark Guides, had a Guide guard of honour at the wedding.

She borrowed a neighbour’s marquee for her reception to continue the Girl Guide theme.

Her wedding reception cost £30, including the cake.

Mrs Godber said Halam Church was a natural choice as it played a large part in the life of her family.

Her grandfather, Mr Aram Stubbs, was a church warden and her mother cleaned the church.

She lived only 100 yards from the church, in Yew Tree Cottage, Church Lane, and so was able to walk there on her wedding day.

She said: “It is not a big church but it is big enough to get a reasonable number of people in.

“It is a friendly church and it is surprising how many people come and get married in Halam.

“If you’re in the minster you feel lost, so a lot of people come from Southwell to get married here.”

Mrs Godber said the churchyard was always beautifully kept and the west door was a popular spot for photographs.

Both her daughter, Briony, who married Mr Derek Dickinson on November 2, 1974, and her youngest son, Clive, who married Miss Anne Sharm on April 30, 1987, had photographs taken outside the west door.

Mrs Godber’s two other children, Paul and Colin, were married at Mansfield and Newark register offices respectively.

If anyone has a wedding photograph they would like to include in the exhibition, contact the organisers, Mr David Herbert on 01636 812335 or Mrs Karin Davis on 01636 815854.

The original photographs will be copied and returned to their owner.