So, it may have been a little on the chilly side, but at least the rain held off! Les and Kath, now in their 70th year of married life together were both on good form and very pleased to see so many people from the family meeting up at Lauraine’s house last Sunday afternoon. The hog roast had been cooking in the back garden since 7.00 that morning and by the time we got to lunch it was full of the flavours you’d expect (if a little off-putting with its eyes still appearing to look at you!)

With good food, fine wine and excellent company came a speech from Philip to encourage everyone to raise a glass to celebrate the previous 69 years of marriage. Not that people needed encouraging, of course!

And then a response speech from Les which I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Packed with meaning, humour and emotion, he spoke with such clarity and thoughtfulness and touched the hearts of everyone there.

I hope I’m as happy as Kath and Les are when I’ve been married 69 years. Tomorrow, Karen and I celebrate our ninth wedding anniversary. Far fewer years but just as happy!

The photographs below are a small summary of the day. If you’d like a complete of them please email simon@bonjourphotography.com and I’ll arrange for that to happen.

Hope you enjoy them!

The weather was great, the food was excellent and only one person was unable to make the family party due to Volcanic ash. Wendy and Hilary organised a superb family gathering at the Imperial Hotel, London, and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves, which I hope you can see from the photographs.

The party was organised with the intention of bringing together all members of the family from all over the world. I think it also coincided with a family member’s 120th birthday (not that he was there, of course!) but I was too busy taking photographs to get involved in piecing together the family tree, much as I wanted to!

Parties like this provide a great opportunity for taking photographs. Everyone is having a good time and children are naturally relaxed. But the setting was even better as the weather enabled everyone to spill outside into the park over the road.

Once outside we managed to grab some group shots (perfect for historical records!) and then some very informal shots of everyone enjoying themselves. All the children were running in and out of the fountain in the middle of the park which was great fun!

Sneak peeks below…