A COUPLE with a strong belief in the importance of family life, Dawn and Bradley Whitford, are celebrating 50 years of marriage this week.

They were married at St Luke’s Church on 2 April 1959 and they honeymooned in Switzerland.

Mrs Whitford (née Vernon-Smith) went on to teach primary school children in the Island for over 29 years.

Born in Jersey, she was educated at St Luke’s School, the Intermediate, and Rouge Bouillon Grammar School, before being trained as an infant nursery teacher at Goldsmith’s College at the University of London.

She met her husband-to-be in 1953 when she was a student in Jersey.
He was born in Guernsey and at the age of two came to Jersey with his family in 1939 when his father was looking for work in the building trade.

With the German invasion imminent, they left for the UK in 1940 and spent the war years in Lancashire.

On their return to Jersey in 1945, Mr Whitford was educated in a school room at St Mark’s Church and at New Street School, before working in carpentry and joinery.

Mrs Whitford took up her first teaching post in the Island in 1958 at St Luke’s School, and over the years she taught at St Saviour’s School and later held posts as head of infants at Halkett Place and then at Rouge Bouillon School.

After 20 years in the building trade, when he also taught students at night school, Mr Whitford gained a teaching qualification in London.

He was one of the first teachers at Les Chênes, where he taught craft and he then moved on to teach students at St Helier Boys, which later became D’Hautrée, and he continued holding evening classes.

In 1984, Mrs Whitford became ill and underwent a triple heart bypass.
On her recovery, she did supply teaching, and then taught English to foreign students.

The couple have two daughters, Louise, a radiographer, and Sarah, an investment manager, and four grandchildren.

This year both of their daughters and their husbands will celebrate 20 years of marriage.

‘Our family are everything to us and we are very proud of them,’ Mrs Whitford said.
She has always enjoyed being a homemaker and Mr Whitford continues his love of tennis and golf – and they are both currently attending Italian evening classes.

‘If you have someone to share your life with in respect, love and good friendship, you are well and truly blessed,’ she said.

Tomorrow afternoon, there will be a blessing service for the couple in Grouville Church, and afterwards their daughters have organised a party for them.

Later in the year, the couple, their children and their families will be going on a cruise in the Mediterranean to celebrate this special year in their lives.