A Staffordshire couple who haven’t returned to the islands since their honeymoon nearly 50 years ago have won a competition to holiday on the islands.
David and Pat Swann came entered the contest in “Staffordshire Life” magazine after reading an article about flowers on the islands.
They had honeymooned on the St Mary’s and had wanted to stay at the Hotel Godolphin but couldn’t afford it. David Swann told Scilly News: “We stayed in a guest house back then with Jeff Thompson on St Mary’s. We had a lovely time. It was the week of April 5th and when we found out we had won we tried to get those dates again for this trip.”
After the magazine phoned them to announce they were the winners the Swanns were delighted to find out their accomodation was at the St Mary’s Hall Hotel. This used to be the Hotel Godolphin where the young couple had wanted to stay all those years ago. Mr Swann says he wasn’t disappointed:
“We had a very nice time. It is a beautiful hotel and the food was ten out of ten. Everyone on the islands were so friendly.”
The couple spent their first day at Tresco Abbey Gardens which they said “was a bit bigger than we remembered.” They especially enjoyed a walk around Cromwell’s Castle.
Pat and David spent the second day looking for puffins- that didn’t materialise- so spent the rest of the afternoon on St Agnes.
The final day of their trip was spent on St Mary’s and they visited Oriel Hicks’ stained glass window studio before flying back to Bristol by Skybus.
So have the islands changed much since the couple last visited?” There are far more motor cars on St Mary’s and the boats are bigger. When we last came we had to sit on daffodil boxes for seats. But other than that it hasn’t changed at all.”
“It was well worth it.”