Bury St Edmunds couple John and Janet Groom reflect on ‘surreal’ start to married life 50 years ago

A Bury St Edmunds couple about to celebrate their Golden Wedding have looked back on the ‘surreal’ start to their marriage.

John and Janet Groom were married at All Saints Church, in Park Road, on February 1, 1975.

After enjoying the ‘perfect’ wedding and a reception at the Athenaeum, they headed off in their car for their honeymoon on the south coast.

However, all did not go to plan.

Janet and John decided to break up the journey by spending their wedding night at a Knebworth hotel.

Not only did they have broken sleep thanks to the hotel’s fire alarm going off a few times overnight, but the next morning they discovered their silver Cortina had been stolen.

Janet said: “We came out with our suitcases in the morning, before breakfast, and the car was gone.

“We do laugh about it now, but at the time it was surreal.”

The newlyweds were forced to abandon their planned honeymoon and instead borrowed a relative’s Essex home for the week, swapping walks by the sea for trips to Colchester Zoo and bowling.

“In those days there were no hen or stag parties and no honeymoons or weddings abroad, you just didn’t have the money,” said Janet. “Things have changed so much in a short space of time. Back then you got married and had a reception and then went straight on your honeymoon.”

The stolen car was found by the police a few days later, having been taken for a joyride.

Many of the items which had been inside the car were missing – including almost all of John’s shoes, which had been left under the back seat as he was wearing his comfy shoes for driving.

Janet said: “We did think ‘uh oh, what a way to start a marriage’, but we also thought ‘nothing can get much worse, surely it’s all going to be jolly after that’ – and it has been.”

Janet and John, who went on to have two daughters and have four grandchildren, did eventually make it to the hotel they booked on the south coast… for their 25th wedding anniversary.