Tempo couple celebrate milestone 60th wedding anniversary

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, Ernie and Doris were thrilled to be able to celebrate the milestone occasion with their three daughters, Gaynor, Zelda and Lisa, and some of their grandchildren.

The couple have six grandchildren – Emily, Alice, Bailie, Euan, Carly and Brooklyn.

Doris and Ernie Campbell who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a card from the Queen to mark the occasion. Photo: Trevor Armstrong

Amid the celebrations, the couple were also delighted to receive a special congratulatory card from Her Majesty The Queen.

"That was my ambition – to get a card from The Queen," said Doris, adding that it was a great surprise for them both when it arrived in the post.

Both originally from the Tempo area, Ernie and Doris first met and started dating in 1960.

Doris explained that she was teaching in the local school at the time, and Ernie was a grocer.

"Ernie lived in the village, in Tempo and I lived two miles away," she said, noting that as they had always lived in the same area, they already knew of each other, but Ernie had been attending boarding school as a young man.

"We then got married in 1962," added Doris.

The following was reported in The Impartial Reporter at the time.

"The wedding took place on July 24, in Tempo Parish Church, of Mr. J. Ernest Campbell, only son of Mr. and Mrs. James Campbell, Main Street, Tempo, and Miss Doris E. West, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William West, Tryalton, Tempo. Canon F. W. C. Whitcroft officiated."

The newspaper went into great detail about Doris' wedding dress, reporting that she wore "a gown of satin brocade which she designed herself", adding: "The fitted corsage, which featured an anvil neckline and long fitted sleeves, merged into a very full skirt with soft folds trimmed with a large satin bow at the back."

Doris and Ernie Campbell pictured on their wedding day on July, 24, 1962.

On her wedding day, Doris was given away by her brother, Richard West, and her bridesmaids were her cousin, Leona Nixon, and Ernie's sister, Joyce Campbell.

It was also reported that the bridesmaids chose "full-length gowns in flamingo pink satin brocade with headdresses of fresh flowers and carried bouquets of mixed pink roses and rosebuds".

Ernie's best man was Fred McFarland, from Belfast, and Adam Nixon, a cousin of the bride, was groomsman.

Ronald West, brother of the bride, and Wilson Green, friend of the groom, acted as ushers. Dr. Armstrong was at the organ and during the signing of the register, William Wilson sang the solo, 'Prayer Perfect'.

After the ceremony, a guard of honour was formed by Lady Langham and the 1st Tempo Girl Guides, of which the Doris was a member at the time.

"The guests were entertained by the bride's parents at the Manor House Hotel, Killadeas, after which the happy couple left on their honeymoon, which was spent touring Killarney and Connemara.

"For travelling Mrs. Campbell wore a smoke-blue three-piece suit with white accessories," the piece concluded.

Today, some 60 years on, when asked what the secret is to a long and happy marriage, Doris replied: "Patience and tolerance. And if you can manage to get through the first 20 years, you will make it," she said with a laugh.

"I think the thing that stood to me was I always admired Doris," added Ernie with a smile.