An American couple who honeymooned on the Island fifty years ago and visited almost every year since are back in Bermuda this weekend to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

Lola and Frank Torre met on a blind date when he was 20-years-old and she was only 16. She was actually supposed to go on a date with his cousin. Fortunately for Mr. Torre, his cousin was unable to go so four years later and after he had served for two years in the US armed services the couple married in 1958.

The decision to honeymoon in Bermuda, said Mrs. Torre, was because she had heard it was the "honeymoon Island" and they had to come down.

That fateful trip turned into almost yearly visits to the Island they fell in love with, until this year when they also brought family and friends to share in their wedding anniversary. Mrs. Torre said: "We just love it here. Even though they are doing a lot of building in the town the town is still quaint.

"The people are just so friendly— people just say hello all the time. That's why we keep coming back."

The only time the American couple took a small break from their annual visits to Bermuda was while raising six children.

They live in upstate, New York where Mr. Torre owns and runs the Torre Lumber Supply Company in Yonkers, New York — which will celebrate 70 years of business this year.

And now those six children and nine grandchildren as well as the couple's sisters and brothers will celebrate in style at a party in the presidential suite of the Fairmont Hamilton Princess this evening for 51 people.

Though they regularly stay at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess now, during their honeymoon Mr and Mrs Torre stayed at the Marriott's Castle Harbour Resort, which has since closed.

Friend W. Carvel Van Putten who works at the hotel arranged for a presentation of a Mayoral Proclamation with various dignitaries and the Torre's family and friends at City Hall. The presentation was done by Deputy Mayor, Courtland A. Boyle.

Also there to recognise the contribution the couple made to the Island through their regular visits, was junior Minister of Tourism and Transport, Marc Bean, the town crier Ed Christopher and Chamber of Commerce President Phil Barnett.

Mr. and Mrs. Torre thanked everyone for the recognition.

Among other things the couple has enjoyed on the Island, eating in different restaurants and the beaches is high on their list. The couple promised, though, that they would be back next year to visit and see-in year 51.