Nigel and Joy celebrate 50 golden years with a Sumbler’s roast promise

One of the first meals Nigel Kerton, Marlborough’s ex Gazette and Herald reporter, and his new wife, Joy, enjoyed in March 1969 was a lamb roast from Sumbler’s Butchers on London Road. The joint cost 1s 6d, one shilling and sixpence, seven and a half pence in today’s money!

Nigel told marlborough.news:  “Percy Sumbler, the owner, knew I was local and when I explained it was the first joint of meat we were enjoying as a married couple, he said, ‘If you’re still together in fifty years I’ll sell you another at the same price.’”

Today Percy’s son, John Sumbler and the butchers who have taken over from the Sumbler brothers, were ready with a succulent stuffed lamb roast for the Kertons.  It weighed in at six pounds, thirty one pence but Nigel was ready with 1s 6d in old money!

John Sumbler said:  “I am very pleased to honour the promise my father made.”

Butcher Steve Frost, who prepared the joint, said, “Anyone who manages to get to fifty years married deserves a medal and a present.”

Joy Kerton, who had a career as a cook, was looking forward to cooking the joint, “We’ll have a full roast, potatoes, parsnips, swede, gravy and mint sauce.”

“She’s been a wonderful cook all my life but the secret of a long marriage is rowing regularly,” commented Nigel.

“And making up very rarely,” quipped Joy.

Nigel and Joy first met as teenagers when Joy started work in Nigel’s father’s shop in Lyneham.  They married in Clyffe Pypard Church on March 25, 1969.  

 “Our first married home was 115 London Road and in those days you could buy everything you needed on London Road.  As well as the butchers there was a greengrocers and bakers.  There were no supermarkets in the town.”

The Sumbler’s joint comes at the end of what has been a fortnight of celebrations for the Kertons.  They have enjoyed a week in Charmouth and a huge party for family and friends.  The Kertons have two children and four grandchildren.