Raglan resident Mrs Lily Stephens (nee Jones), aged 99, recently went for a second ride in the 1935 Morris 10/4 car in which she rode to her wedding - on November 19, 1936 writes Sheila E M Parry.

Lil or Auntie Lil (as she is well known) then living at The Hendre, Llangattock Lingoed married Mr Wilfred Stephens of Foxes Bark, Llantillio Pertholey at St Cadoc’s church, Llangattock Lingoed.

When family friend Mr Albert Parry, then of Great Goytre, Pandy, learnt of the forthcoming wedding from his friend Mr Horace Jones (Lil’s father), who told Albert, ‘Lil is leaving to get married’

Albert, who was one of the few people in the area who owned a car at that time, said, “Well I could drive her to her wedding.”

Lil was busy chopping wood for the house fire when Albert asked her if he could have the pleasure of driving her to her wedding. Lil accepted gratefully, but looking back she said with a smile, “I thought it was a long journey by car, I could have got to the church quicker by running across the fields! The car had to drive up our long driveway from the farm and then all the way back around the road to the church.”

Lil recalls it was a very cold day. She wore a long red dress and her bridesmaid (sister Evelyn) wore a long brown and lemon dress.

The best man was Wilfred’s brother Trevor Stephens.

The Vicar at St Cadoc’s church then was Rev’d Maddox. During the service Wilf had difficulty getting the ring onto Lil’s finger due to the fact that Lil had chilblains on most of her fingers. Rev Maddox said, “I can’t go on with the service until the ring is over the knuckle,” so Wilf had to force the ring onto an already sore finger.

Lil said, “As soon as I got home I got some soap and water and got it off and then it had to go away to be made bigger.”

Horace (a butcher by trade) and Albert butchered a lamb for the reception, which was held at the bride’s home, The Hendre.

“We had cold meat and pickle,” said Lil.

One day Lil lost her wedding ring and she was reluctant to leave the house or go out anywhere without wearing it. Quite some time later Wilf found the ring in the cattle manger where Lil had been feeding chaff and hay to the cows. She still has the ring to this day.

Unfortunately Lil has no photographs of her wedding day as not many photographs were taken in those days. The couple later had two daughters Audrey and Doreen.

Sadly Wilf passed away on February 29 1980.

On June 1 1991, some 55 years later, it was time for the old Morris to come out again for a second wedding. This time it was for Albert’s grand-daughter Sharon Parry and her future husband David Thompson.

For many years the old car had been kept in a building at Henllys, Tregaer, where the Parry family now live.

With a warning of the forthcoming wedding in a year’s time, Ian Parry (Sharon’s brother) joined the Morris club and spent months of hard work renovating the old car until, finally restored to her former glory, she shone like new.

Having recently found out that Lil now lived in Raglan, the Parry’s rang her to ask if she would like another ride in her wedding car! Taken completely by surprise Lil’s immediate reply was ‘Yes I would!’.

Three generations of the Parry family went to Raglan to see Lil setting off on this nostalgic journey.

It was here that the two brides Lil and Sharon met for the first time, although there have been many connections between the two families down the generations.

Ian Parry, (Albert’s grand-son) drove the car to pick up Lil. He asked her if she would like to go to Llangattock Lingoed to see the church where she was married.

“Not particularly”, said Lil. “I would like to go and see the house where I was born, Hentlan at Llanvetherine.”

Accompanying Lil on this memorable journey was her niece Maureen (daughter of Lil’s brother Trevor). When they finally got to Hentlan, Lil could remember it well, especially the old iron front gate.

She said she had thoroughly enjoyed the journey and had many tales to tell on the way. When she got home she wrote all about the event in her daily diary.

It is hoped that when Lil reaches her 100th birthday next August she can once again take a ride in her wedding car.