FOLLOWING a string of articles about Bridgwater’s Railway Hotel Tom Payne of Cannington contacted The Mercury with the story of his wedding breakfast back in 1959.

And it sparked a discussion with him and his wife Valerie about life back in the 1950s and wedding style of the time.

“The wedding cake was three tiers,” said Valerie, “and we had to hire the base from Hills the cake shop, but they didn’t have a square base in those days so it was a round one. I bought my wedding dress at Brakes in Taunton and I remember there were a lot alterations as it came off the peg. Brakes was where Primark is now. It was full length with a fingertip veil and pure white with illusion sleeves. We got married by the Rev Taylor at St John's Church and he used to cycle a very old fashioned bike, very tall.”

The bride changed into a her going away outfit of a two piece suit with matching hat and handbag when the couple left the Railway Hotel by car after their reception in the late afternoon.

“The car was a Morris 8,” said Tom, “a series E, although I’m not sure, and we drove all the way to London and stayed at the Dilstone Hotel at Sussex Gardens, where you parked outside. No yellow lines in those days.”

“My cousin tied a kipper to the exhaust,” recalled Valerie with horror, “and by the time we got to Langport it was absolutely horrible. We got out to see what it was and a man asked us what we were doing and he said, ‘stand back and I’ll sort that out,’ And he did.”

The Railway Hotel was very large inside with a big function room said Valerie and quite ‘oldie worldie’ inside with a sweeping staircase and was the place to stay in the 1950s. It’s now gone after being demolished and is where a garage is now next to the station.

“The day we got married I still got up and milked 40 or 50 cows,” said Tom. “I was working at on a milking bail by the river and Mr Carey was the farmer. I finished working there and then ended up at British Cellophane in bonded fibre for 23 years – terrible working there – like a budgie in a cage. You can’t beat working outdoors.”

We like to hear your stories of the past – especially where you worked back in the day and if you’ve got photos. Do get in touch by email at harry.mottram@nqsw.co.uk