The pair, who met in their early 20s, first fell in love while writing letters to one another.
‘I was on holiday with a friend in the Isle of Man, and Alec’s brother and sister were staying in the same place as us. They said they had a brother in the army, and would I like to write letters to him. That’s how it started.’
The pair would finally meet face-to-face for the first time six months later once Alec’s battalion had returned to the UK from Cyprus. It was soon after that the couple married, and they chose Guernsey as their honeymoon destination.
‘I suppose it seemed quite exotic and different at the time,’ said Mr Dovey.
‘And I’d never flown before, so we wanted a short flight,’ added Mrs Dovey.
The pair used the buses to get around, making sure to tour ‘all the regular places’.
‘I love the Little Chapel. I think that was my favourite,’ said Mrs Dovey.
Yet, despite greatly enjoying their visit, it would be quite some time before Mr and Mrs Dovey returned. ‘It became more common for people to go further afield for holidays,’ Mr Dovey explained.
However, Guernsey would eventually go on to become a staple part of life after their son, Gary, moved to the island to work in education.
‘He’s lived here 34 years now, and we have grandchildren and great-grandchildren being raised here. So, now we're back all the time,’ said Mr Dovey.
The pair celebrated their anniversary surrounded by family with a surprise party at Les Cotils, where they also received their letter of congratulations from the King and Queen – an additional surprise for the couple.
‘I had no idea you got one for your 65,’ said Mrs Dovey.
The secret to the couple’s long and happy marriage according to Mrs Dovey is ‘plenty of love and keeping the family together.
‘That’s what’s really important.’
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