Diamond celebrations for ex-Gazette editor

ROBERT House, editor of the Tiverton Gazette from 1979 to 1991, and his wife Esther, a former school teacher, have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

They tied the knot in Marlow on August 26, 1950 when Robert was chief reporter with the Slough Observer.

The couple moved to Devon when Robert took up the editorship of the Tiverton Gazette. They bought their present home near the town in 1980, living there for 30 years — half their married life.

Esther worked in a number of schools in the Tiverton area, before her retirement. She has had a long association with Tiverton Art Society of which she was chairman and is a former president of Halberton WI.

The couple had three children; Robert, a journalist who died in 2005, Bryonie and Deborah and have nine grandchildren.

A celebration lunch was held at Lower Ford Farm, near Cullompton.

Mrs House said the couple had enjoyed a “lovely lunch” and were delighted to receive a number of cards at their home.