WESTERN BUREAU: Just before twilight on Saturday, September 12, Simeon and Wilmagene Lawrence slowly walked down lovers' lane to renew their wedding vows, after 50 years.

Held under the theme 'Celebrating Love That's Pure and Lasting as Gold', the Lawrences were chauffeured from their home in Hopewell, Hanover, to the Day-O Plantation at Fairfield, near Granville in St James, venue for the event.

Wilmagene, 79, and Simeon, 82, are members of the Hopewell Zion Missionary Church in their hometown.

They got married on September 9, 1959. Kerith Lawrence, the third of the union's four children, remembers vividly the pleasant Wednesday afternoon when his parents said 'I do' at the Burchell Baptist Church in Montego Bay.

"I was only seven years old at the time, so there is not much else I can recall," Kerith told Outlook.

Mr Lawrence, do you remember how to put onto a ring?" asked Rev Ronald Webster, officiating minister, much to the amusement of the guests. Lawrence smiled. He gently nodded his head. "Yes sir," he replied.

As the elderly couple took turns to place the ring on each other's finger, Mrs Lawrence raised her right hand, gently held her husband's left hand and softly whispered the words of a song.

As they left the altar, musician Garfield Lawrence played a melodious rendition of Unchained Melody on his clarinet, followed by selections such as Always and Forever, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Larry Graham's One In A Million, Norah Jones' Don't Know Why I Didn't Come, among others.

And just as they did 50 years ago, the couple cut the cake together. Master of Ceremonies Rev Ambrose Hinds instructed them to cut a small piece of cake, rest it between their lips and wait for his signal to feed each other.

Toasts, speeches and songs

But Simeon was in a hurry and took all in his mouth. Hi wife nudged him and he put the cake back between his lips and they bird fed each other. When time came for champagne, he said, "It might wet me up yuh nuh," much to the amusement of guests close by.

Toasts, speeches and songs followed. Pamela Brown and Marcia Webster spiced up that segment with separate renditions of Teach Me Lord To Wait and God Has Been Good To Me.

"I am very happy to be here, having been around for such a long time. I am glad to see the turnout. Fifty years seems to me like yesterday," responded Mr Lawrence, an ex-Royal Air Force serviceman. "I am still a war veteran; the going was rough, but I put my trust in God. He has been my source," said Mrs Lawrence.

Musician Garfield Lawrence ably entertained Simeon and Wilmagene Lawrence and their guests. - Photos by Noel Thompson

Simeon Lawrence feeds his wife of 50 years, Wilmagene, with a glass of champagne.

Simeon Lawrence places the ring onto his wife Wilmagene's finger under the watchful eye of Rev Ronald Webster (left).

Pastor of the Hopewell Missionary Church in Hanover, Ronald Webster (left), reads from the Bible as Simeon and Wilmagene Lawrence renew their vows at their 50th wedding anniversary ceremony. Looking on is Janet Lawrence, daughter-in-law.

Mr and Mrs Simeon Lawrence, of Hopewell, Hanover, prepare to cut their wedding anniversary cake.