SIDNEY — David Lodge and Sherrie Casad-Lodge, of Sidney, recently celebrated 30 years of marriage with family in a private gathering this past month at Tawawa Park where Sherrie’s niece, Alyssa Nicole, took photos of their favorite place to explore in Sidney.
Alyssa was only four years old when she first walked the Benjamin Trail with her aunt and uncle, who are avid nature lovers, and the trio returned to the area to commemorate the event.
David and the former Sherrie Casad flew to London, England, traveling to Gretna Green, Scotland, to marry on Sept. 2, 1991, in both a civil ceremony at the Registrar’s Office, as well as in an ancient ritual at the Blacksmith’s Shop at the historic Gretna Hall. The hotel dates to 1710 and paintings of past newly weds, including that of royalty, line the walls leading to the honeymoon suite. In keeping with a Scottish tradition, couples come to the site to reaffirm their vows over an anvil and their witnesses were guests from England staying at the hotel.
Following the ceremony, the Lodges visited Edinburgh, Scotland, and traveled to Wales to meet David’s family, then toured England for their honeymoon. They returned home to a family reception hosted by Sherrie’s parents, Jerry and Linda Marvin, of Sidney. On a return trip to Gretna a few years ago, the Lodges were able to “pay it forward” by serving as witnesses for another happy couple who had decided to wed in the same fashion.
Sherrie is a graduate of Sidney High School and went on to earn her Masters of Business Administration at Xavier University in Cincinnati. She retired from Alcoa and has worked at a variety of non-profits, including serving as interim executive director of the Gateway Arts Council. Sherrie is a long-time community volunteer with groups such as the Sidney Civic Band and the Shelby County Historical Society and is also the owner of a marketing/multi-media company, C.L. Communications.
David Lodge was born in Manchester, England, and served with the Royal Air Force in Cyprus prior to immigrating to America, where he later became a naturalized citizen of the United States. He served over 10 years on Sidney City Council and worked for over 40 years at Amos Press, where he continues to write a freelance philatelic column. Dave brought the game of soccer from England to Sidney and the city of Sidney honored his many contributions by naming the Lodge Soccer Fields in his honor at Tawawa Park. A 30-year acting veteran, he and his wife first met while performing the stage play “Blythe Spirit,” at the former Children’s Home for Sock & Buskin Community Theatre and for more than 10 years they portrayed the living history characters of Mr. and Mrs. W.H.C. Goode, original owners of the local GreatStone Castle.
