1959 My Marriage

The date, April 4th. The place, the Registry Office in the Town Hall, Norwich, Norfolk, England.

Given the hype of weddings today (and then I suppose), it really was a quiet affair.

The story leading up to the marriage deserves a telling all of its own, but for now I'll stick to the day.

This entry is prompted by the fact that in seventeen days it will be my/our 50th wedding anniversary. Given that we've been separated now for twelve years, I suppose that the anniversary is an empty thing. But the day will no doubt contain a few thoughts about its 'should-have-been' significance. April 4th is a special day anyway because it's also the date we emmigrated so it is unforgettable.

Back to 'the day'. Showing remarkable and atypical sharpthinking we'd opted for the date partly because the British Income Tax system had an anual cut off date and by marrying before that date we won back some urgently needed money from the tax man.

The other reason was that my mother had finally given her consent to her under-age son's marriage.

The bride wore a dress donated by her landlady. The groom: the best he could manage from his very limited wardrobe, probably blazer, slacks and tie.

I remember the ceremony hardly at all.

The wedding photos were a disaster. And air force buddy, a red haired Welsh lad whose name I remember not, had professed great skill and ownership of a superb camera. Only two shots came out (in black and white of course)! One of the happy couple emerging from the registry office and the other of a post-ceremony kiss. The latter I still have and it's featured here.

Attending the wedding, apart from us two, were Glennys' father Herbert Ralph Ward-Eversley and maybe four of my fellow airmen from nearby R.A.F. Horsham St. Faith where I was based.

After the wedding we all repaired to a nearby pub, "The Raven", for lunch, courtesy my new father-in-law.

After that? The airmen went off back to base and the newlyweds went to their newly rented flat with dad-in-law. In due course he headed back to Coventry and we had our honeymoon at the aforementioned 4b Quebec Road. It was Saturday so the honeymoon was half of Saturday and all of Sunday before I headed back to Air Force duties.

A modest start wasn't it?

In answer to that most frequently asked question? No, the bride wasn't with child. Mitchell, thank goodness, arrived thirteen months later.