THERE were no presents when Ron and Marion Stevens celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with their family and friends; instead, they asked for donations to the Devon Air Ambulance Trust.

They were married at North Bovey Church on February 27, 1960. Marion was born in 1936 at Thorn Farm, North Bovey, the youngest daughter of Charles and Annie Woollacott.

Ron was born in 1932 at 2 Exeter Road, Crediton. "Two and a half years later we were made homeless due to the fire which destroyed three cottages opposite the then White Hart Hotel.

"I was the third child of Albert and Ada Stevens. As a result of the fire, our family was split up, living with family and friends," said Ron.

He went to Haywards School, leaving at the age of 14 and, for 18 months, worked for L J Gibbings at the East Street Bakery, also the Kirton Cafe. He then obtained a five year apprenticeship with Dart and Francis as a carpenter and joiner.

"During that time I worked on many church projects. Two that stand out were the memorial to those who fought in the defence of Malta.

"This was in the form of a Bishop's Throne and large oak panels, all made from English oak and placed in St Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral in Valetta.

"Another was the making and installation of a pulpit for the Gladstone family in Hawarden Church in North Wales," Ron said.

Ron would also take the wages every Thursday by bus from Crediton to the men working at Exeter Cathedral.

He enrolled in the RAF the day before the Queen's Coronation in June, 1953. His first posting was to RAT West Rainham, Norfolk for two years, then two years in Germany.

"I was demobilised in 1957 and met Marion at a Carnival dance at Chagford that year," he recalled. "Our first home was a bungalow in Old Tiverton Road. This had been Charles Rodd's first venture into building houses.

"For the last 19 years of my working life, I was a technician for the Social Services Department of Devon County Council, working with occupational therapists installing equipment and making aids for handicapped and disabled people of all ages. I found this work very rewarding," said Ron.

He played football, rugby, bowls and cricket for Crediton. He was a member of the committee of Crediton United FC, becoming vice chairman and then chairman.

That was when the club moved from Newcombes Meadow to its present home on Lords Meadow. "On the opening day we entertained the full Bristol City football team in a testimonial game for Trevor Tainton, one of their players," said Ron.

With other members of Crediton United, Ron was instrumental in their putting forward plans for the clubhouse.

Marion's life was on the farm. When she was three years old she went to live with her grandmother at Christow because of her mother's ill-health.

She went to school there, delivered milk around the village with her cousins and well remembers German planes coming in low over Christow after bombing Exeter.

"My grandmother would put me under the stairs for safety until the all clear sounded. Looking out of a bedroom window towards Exeter, we saw the glow in the sky as buildings and homes were burned."

Marion returned home to live with her parents and sister when she was about seven years old. "Dad had bought Ellacombe Farm, half a mile from Thorn. By then I was able to milk cows and walk the three miles to North Bovey School.

"Dad was a Churchwarden at North Bovey for many years and as a family, we were involved in raising money for the church and village," she said.

When she was 11 years old, Marion joined her sister at Chagford School, where she played netball for the school and joined the school Young Farmer's Club.

She was aiming to take a teacher training course at College, her sister was to join the WRAF. With the chance to increase the size of his farm, their father offered them the chance to join him, which they did.

"Dad was a very forward thinking man with high standards and expectations. Working together as a team with both challenging and hard work, being responsible for the stock and farming the land in all winds and weather was quite a commitment," said Marion.

She became secretary of the newly reformed Chagford YFC and very much enjoyed taking part in club activities.

She and her sister both enjoyed square dancing with the late Bob Cann, often going to two or three dances a week at various villages in the area.

Marion remembers that on her wedding day she was up at 6am to do the milking and her other farm work.

She still has the receipt for her wedding flowers which cost £6.3s.0d. (£6.15p). This included five shillings (25p) for the buttonholes.

The farm made their own butter, selling this and eggs as well as turkeys, geese, ducks and chicken.

Marion continued to help on the farm after her marriage until her parents retired and moved to Crediton. By that time Ron and Marion had three sons.

She supported Ron with his football work, joining the Ladies Committee doing teas, taking her turn in washing the team football kit and doing bar duty in the club house.

Their three sons are all married and they have six grandsons, the eldest being 19 and the youngest nearly two years old.

"Through our life together we have had many challenges, highs and lows, happy and sad times, but we share a love and understanding many may never know and we always try to be there for each other," she said.

Marion added that a sense of humour and a love of nature, plus some very special friends, makes it all so worth while.

Her husband added that listening to each other, doing things together, being able to laugh at things when they go wrong, supporting each other when one is down over something is what is important.

"Being there for each other in the bad times, loving and caring - and sharing," he said.

They both have many fascinating memories and, like many who have seen farming and Crediton change, should write them down for their family.