Fantastic donation in lieu of presents in celebration of Joan and Len Charles Golden Wedding Anniversary celebration

On Sunday 2nd November 2014, we reported within the ‘News’ section of our website that Len and Joan Charles, long time supporters of the Team (since the late 1980s) and parents of very long serving team member Gillian Leigh (nee Charles), celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

Gillian their daughter had arranged a secret surprise for her parents in that they would be collected and driven to their celebratory meal in one of our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances.

Accordingly our President Bob Hutchinson and equally long serving team member Diane Blakeley arrived at Len and Joan’s home in Breightmet, Bolton in our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance Bolton Mobile 1, to collect them.

It was fortunate that they arrived 10 minutes earlier than Gillian had told them because as they arrived the Charles’ were about to leave home in their car !

They had not even been advised that they were to be collected at all, let alone in a team vehicle, such was the secrecy Gillian had shrouded our involvement in.

After an uneventful journey to The Owls at Standish, the happy – still in love and very much young at heart – couple were met by daughter Gillian and her husband Ian (a former Bolton MRT member and an ex Deputy Team Leader himself) and her children, Megan and Robert.

Their guests were equally greeted to the surprise of Joan and Len as they arrived in our Land Rover and Bob and Diane departed job completed, leaving Joan and Len with huge big grins on their faces over the surprise their daughter Gillian had played on them.

Today our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE received a wonderful letter and a substantial donation via Gillian Leigh from her mum and dad, Joan and Len Charles ;

“Dear Team, thank you for a terrific send off in your ‘Limo’ on the occasion of our Golden Wedding.

It was the icing on the cake for us.

Diane and Bob were brilliant Chauffeurs.

Thanks also for the champers (Webmaster ; please note the bottle of champagne was very kindly donated by a team member who wishes to remain anonymous, to Len and Joan)

Please find enclosed a donation to Bolton MRT of £1,000.00 in lieu of presents on this our special occasion.

Carry on with the good work you all do.

Love and best wishes from Joan and Len.”

This is truly a magnificent and wonderful total surprise to all of us in the team, and such a thoughtful and very kind way of celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

The entire team membership of Bolton Mountain Rescue Team once again sends their best wishes to Len and Joan for their recent Golden Wedding Anniversary, and we extend our sincere thanks to all who made very kind donations in lieu of presents to Bolton MRT honouring Joan and Len’s Golden Wedding Anniversary.