Couple makes surprise Watersmeet Theatre visit as both mark golden anniversaries

Dennis and Carol Warren held their wedding reception at Watersmeet, Rickmansworth, on the very day the 515-seated theatre, which is owned by Three Rivers District Council, was officially opened to the public on 9 May 1975.

They were the first newlyweds to hold a wedding reception at Rickmansworth’s only theatre. The couple were married at the Watford Registry Office and then drove a lovely white Bentley to the venue.

Carol said: “We were living in Chorleywood, so we thought it wasn’t that far for people to travel to from the registry office to Rickmansworth. Luckily, the theatre was ready on time. We were really pleased with it. We had a lovely day, and it was a lovely brand-new venue. We were happy with the menus, and I think we had roast beef, and my Mom remarked about the hot plates. She had a thing for hot plates.”

The then-Chairman of Three Rivers District Council, Ron Crockett, and his wife, Kay Crockett, the then-Chairwoman of Rickmansworth Chamber of Commerce and the Rickmansworth Society, made a surprise visit on the couple’s special day. The Chair and his wife even kissed the newlyweds and received a slice of wedding cake.

As a “spur of the moment,” the couple decided to revisit the places they celebrated their wedding day five decades ago. This included the registry office and Watersmeet, as well as their previous home in Chorleywood and the pub they once frequented.

When they got to Watersmeet, it just so happened that Three Rivers District Council was holding a coffee morning thanking the Friends of Watersmeet volunteers for all their hard work as part of the theatre’s 50th anniversary celebration.

“We were so overwhelmed with the friendliness of the staff,” said Carol.

“The receptionist said we must come upstairs. So, we went upstairs and saw all these people in the room, but they were very, very nice and we had a coffee. It was lovely. Really, really lovely. We told some of our friends about our visit, and they said: ‘Wow, that’s fantastic.’”

Dennis and Carol, who first met at the New Penny Discotheque in Watford, had their honeymoon at Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. To celebrate the couple’s golden anniversary alongside Watersmeet’s 50th anniversary, the council gifted them a year’s membership.

Carol said she and Dennis will definitely return to Watersmeet to watch a musical and potentially the Simon and Garfunkel tribute act.

“We were not expecting anything from our little tour,” said Carol, “so to be given this membership is amazing. I thank the staff for being so kind to us. Watersmeet is a fantastic venue that will hold a dear place in our hearts. Happy anniversary to Watersmeet!”

Find out more about Watersmeet’s 50th anniversary celebrations here.

PHOTO CAPTION 1: Dennis and Carol about to cut into their wedding cake

PHOTO CAPTION 2: The couple held their wedding reception at Watersmeet 50 years ago, the same day the venue opened to the public.

PHOTO CAPTION 3: Dennis and Carol were surprised to see so many people celebrating the venue's 50th anniversary on the same day as their golden anniversary.