A walk down memory lane
Beryl and Barry met in Canada. Beryl was originally from Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). She had been globe trotting, working and travelling her way through UK, Europe and Canada. Barry was originally from England, he had decided to travel and go to work in Canada at the same time as Beryl. So they met in Canada while they worked together.
In 1960, Barry quit his job in Canada in order to take his finals in Haematology and Blood Transfusions back in London. He was due to return home to London on the Sylvania early 1961. As the days grew closer, Barry arranged to take Beryl out for a final farewell dinner.
Barry recalls ..."when the thought of losing her forever became too strong, and seeing as she was the only one in the world that I could ever modern dance with ... I popped the question, not dreaming she would ever say Yes" ... which of course she did and the rest is still history in the making!
Barry still had a week or so left before he had to board the Sylvania, as he had intended to visit his great Aunt Mae for a week in Old Orchard Beach, Maine to say goodbye.
Barry recalls ... "Aunt Mae had always been so good to our family during the war years, sending us Spam (the tinned meaty variety) and she had knitted my favourite jersey (which Beryl eventually gave to our gardener in Mufulira)
... So our 'doom' was sealed on that fateful evening! I did not say cheers to my Aunt Mae, but used my last week in Canada to grow even closer to Beryl".
Beryl stayed on in Canada for a further 3 months while Barry was busy with his studies and putting their wedding arrangements together back in England.
On Saturday 13 May, 1961 they tied the knot. Their wedding reception was at Cromwell Cottage, Kislingbury ... http://www.thecromwellcottagekislingbury.co.uk/ ... It has changed a bit over the past 50 years
Their “honeymoon” was a tour of Europe, which Barry had not seen before! Beryl had been twice before during her travels.
Beryl and Barry then came to Africa as man and wife on the new “Windsor Castle” in August 1961.