A HAYLE couple who met when she wolf-whistled as her husband-to-be cycled past with friends to seek "better women" in St Ives have celebrated 50 years of marriage.
John and Hazel Coram toasted their golden wedding anniversary with a lunch for immediate family in Camborne and a party for nearly 100 guests at Rosewarne Manor, Connor Downs.
Mr Coram, 71, said the day was "the time of our lives" and it was great to see old friends – some they had not seen since the wedding in 1962.
"It went off absolutely fantastically," he said. "It doesn't seem like 50 years has gone by."
Instead of presents, the couple requested guests at the party donate money to the Children's Hospice South West Precious Lives Appeal and have raised £565 so far.
Born locally, the Corams have always lived in west Cornwall and met by chance when he was cycling to St Ives from Hayle with a friend.
Mr Coram, who worked in the ambulance service before he retired, said of that day, January 1, four years before they married: "I'll never forget the day. Quite a few of us used to cycle from Hayle to St Ives because we found there was better women in St Ives than in Hayle."
The cyclists were passing a house in Lelant when Mr Coram heard a wolf whistle and turned back to find out who had made the noise.
He said: "There was Hazel with her neighbour and a local girl. We went back and that was the start of it – the best day's work I ever did."
Mr Coram and his wife, 70, who worked at the Primrose Dairy, have two daughters, two sons, four grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and four step-great grandchildren.
Mr Coram said he was thankful to his "fantastic" family for their help and support.
