Molly Hutton, a 92-year-old grandmother from Somerset, was treated to the hen night she never had—70 years after marrying her husband, Geoff.
Back in April 1955, when Molly and Geoff tied the knot, hen nights simply weren’t part of the wedding tradition. When Molly mentioned this to her family, they decided to surprise her with a celebration of her own on the eve of their 70th wedding anniversary.
Molly recalled, “I’ve been to many hen nights for my granddaughters and nieces, and I always had a great time. But I never had one myself because it just wasn’t done back then.”
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The party took place at The Riff Corner, a live music and arts venue in Clevedon. Expecting a night of music after dinner, Molly was delighted to find her friends and family had organised a full hen night celebration. She was presented with a ‘Bride to Be’ sash and veil, and everyone enjoyed a buffet and games.
“It was a fabulous evening,” Molly enthused. “It may have taken me until 92 to have a hen night, but it was well worth the wait.”
Molly’s story began decades earlier when she met Geoff at teacher training college. Introduced through a mutual friend, Geoff was an officer teaching maths on the aircraft carrier HMS Indefatigable. After an initial date, they kept in touch despite being apart, and Geoff proposed during a scenic drive near Andover.
The couple married when Molly was 22 and Geoff 24, went on to have five children, and settled in Clevedon in 1964. Geoff worked in various technical roles while Molly dedicated her career to education, eventually becoming a headteacher.
Today, Molly and Geoff have 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, with two more on the way. The pair enjoy hobbies like knitting and making greeting cards. They recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with a family party.
Reflecting on their enduring union, Molly credits their strong bond to compromise and laughter. “Life isn’t always smooth, but we’ve stuck together through it all. Geoff makes me smile every day, and that’s the key.”
Sylvie Dagallier and Steve Treble, owners of The Riff Corner, were thrilled to host Molly’s special night. “We’re so happy Molly had the hen night she always deserved, surrounded by her loved ones.”