29/05/2025
A Devon Romance 60 years
The Story of Anne and Neville
Anne and Neville’s story begins in the quiet rural surroundings of Coleford. As is often the case with Devonian farming families, life revolved closely around the land, and journeys beyond the familiar countryside were rare. Neville, a local farmer, was no exception; within this close-knit community, he met Anne, a young woman whose visits to Devon would soon change the course of her life.
Anne wasn’t originally from the West Country. She hailed from Southport. Around 1960 - 1961, during her school holidays, she would
travel south to Devon to spend time with her Auntie and Uncle. These cherished holidays brought her to Coleford, where her relatives lived in a modest middle house, part of a terrace of three. The doorway to their home is behind what is now the village seat, and today’s houses are Spencer House and Spencer Cottage.
Those visits to Coleford, which was full of countryside charm and warm family gatherings, gradually became more than just holidays for Anne. She was drawn to the rhythm of rural life and, eventually, to Neville himself. Their friendship blossomed into romance over the years, nurtured by the backdrop of Devon’s rolling fields and close
community life.
In time, Anne and her father decided to leave Southport behind and relocate permanently to North Tawton, just a short journey away.
It was a significant change—trading the breezy northern coast for the pastoral calm of Mid Devon—but one that brought Anne closer to
Neville and the future they were building together.
Their love culminated in marriage on a spring day in 1965. On Saturday, the 15th of May, Anne and Neville were wed at St. Andrews Church Colebrooke. Following the ceremony, family and friends gathered at the New Inn in Coleford for the wedding reception—a celebration filled with laughter, toasts, and the warmth of community. The New Inn, a beloved local establishment, provided the perfect setting for marking the beginning of Anne and Neville’s married life.
From chance holiday visits to a lifetime of shared memories, Anne and Neville’s story is one of those quiet yet deeply touching tales that form the fabric of rural life. Their journey reminds us that sometimes, the heart doesn’t need to travel far to find its home.
