Shortage of men led to 60 years of marriage for Taunton couple (From This is The West Country)

Shortage of men led to 60 years of marriage for Taunton couple

6:00pm Saturday 6th October 2012 in News

A SHORTAGE of men in a choir has led to 60 happy years of marriage for a Taunton couple.

David Tosh-Robb sat between two women at services as there were few men, and ended up marrying Isobel, one of the singers next to him.

Their son, Simon, said: “They lived in Southampton at the time and Dad liked putting his arm round the woman next to him.

“He ended up proposing to her when he was ill in bed with flu - she couldn't resist, though she says she'd have accepted anyway.”

David, 85, and Isobel, 80, moved to Taunton in 1959 when he got a job as a quantity surveyor with building firm Stansells.

He helped restore several old buildings, including the United Reformed Church, in Taunton, where the couple, of Mountfield Avenue, still worship.

They have a son, who lives in California, and two daughters, as well as four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

They celebrated with family and friends at the Merry Monk, Monkton Heathfield, on their anniversary today.