Edna reunited with 1961 Shropshire bridesmaid

A Shropshire woman has been reunited with her bridesmaid after nearly 50 years following an appeal in the Shropshire Star to help to find her.

Bryan and Edna Evans, of Greenacre Road, Copthorne, Shrewsbury, got married at Knockin Church, near Oswestry, in March 1961.

The couple are having a party next year to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary and wanted to track down bridesmaid Margaret Taylor, now Margaret Roberts.

Edna, 70, had not seen Margaret since she was 21. But after issuing her plea for help to readers Edna was reunited with Margaret this week.

The pair became friends while working at the Vineyard Children's Home in Wellington but lost contact soon after the wedding.

Edna, whose maiden name is Green, said they were close and good friends because they were of a similar age and got on very well when they worked together as house mothers. But she said once house mothers got married they had to leave because they had to live with the children as part of the job.

Margaret still lives in Wellington.

After the "emotional" reunion on Tuesday she has now accepted an invitation to join Edna and Bryan, 73, at a wedding anniversary party at the Wroxeter Hotel, near Shrewsbury, on March 27 when they will be joined by family and friends.

Margaret was one of two bridesmaids at the couple's wedding along with Edna's sister Barbara who will also be at the party.

Edna said: "She came to my house and we never stopped talking. She's got two sons and has got married since I last saw her.

"It was so strange to see her because it was like no time had passed.

"We took off where we left off and looked through some old pictures from the wedding day.

"Our wedding anniversary will be even more special now because we'll have both our bridesmaids there. It will be quite emotional."