Tuesday 18 February 2014

58 Years

Today is my mum and dad's 58th wedding anniversary.


They met in Woolworth's in Leicester where my mum was working. The store was being refurbished and my dad was doing the French polishing in the refit. He asked her out on a date on numerous occasions but my mum played hard to get and didn't accept for quite some time.


They married in Leeds on the 18th of February 1956. My dad was 22 and my mum was 21.


A couple of years ago, they moved in to an apartment. Whilst having a clear out ready for the move, my mum came across her wedding album and passed it on to me. It's something I'll treasure.


Happy Anniversary, Mum and Dad.

40 comments:

  1. Oh Jo how lovely. Your mum's dress and flowers were beautiful. Being someone who has looked into their family history in the past (and will continue to do so once they have created a 48hr day instead of 24) I think it's wonderful that your mum has passed on such memories for you to cherish. 58 years my goodness that's a very long time. I managed 15 years with my first husband and I'm nearly at that milestone with D. I think that friends of mine who are approaching their 30th anniversaries are doing well your mum and dad have almost doubled that today. I hope they have a lovely anniversary.

    Mx

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    1. I've researched my family tree too, it's such an interesting hobby. I've come to a bit of a standstill with it though now. I agree how wonderful memories are to pass on, I've got a bit of a project to do for Eleanor, I'll have to blog about it soon. It will be our silver wedding anniversary next year, we'll have been married 24 years this July.

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    2. Are you planning something special for next year then? Can't wait to see what you are going to do for Eleanor. How's her blanket coming along?

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    3. We haven't discussed it yet, but I'm sure we'll mark the occasion somehow. I've started a new knitting project which I'll blog about soon, so Eleanor's blanket has gone on the back burner somewhat.

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    4. It'll get done eventually. I never rush through a project though, I do like to savour every stitch.

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  2. Nice post. Happy anniversary to your mum and dad. Flighty xx

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    1. Thank you. I don't think they're doing anything to celebrate. I called in to see them both this morning though.

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  3. Happy Anniversary from me. I love the bouquet.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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    1. Thank you. It's a beautiful bouquet, they had such huge arrangements in those days.

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  4. Oh what a beautiful couple. What a treasure that album surely is to you!

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    1. It certainly is, it's something I'm very proud to now own.

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  5. How lovely, what a wonderful story of how they met - can you imagine a shop like Woolies having French polished anything now! - and a testament to their love that they are still together all these years on. They are an inspiration to us all. I am sure that you will treasure and care for their album forever, what a lovely gift to have. xx

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    1. When the refurbishment was done, my dad came back to Leeds and my mum came with him and lived with my dad's sister until they were married. I couldn't believe that my mum would part with her wedding album, but it's something I'll treasure and look after.

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  6. Oh that is such a lovely sweet story. My parents seemed to have dedicated their lives to being & making each other miserable. Not a trait passed down to me I'm happy to add. I love reading about other peoples happiness. Wish them a happy anniversary from me.

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    1. That's so sad about your parents, and it can't have been very easy for you over the years either. Thank you for your good wishes.

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  7. Congratulations to your Mum and Dad. What a fantastic achievement! You'll have to ask them what their secret is x

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    1. Thank you. It is an achievement when you think how many marriages end in divorce these days.

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    2. That's exactly what I was thinking Jo, not many couples stick it out nowadays!

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    3. They don't. I think marriage is something which needs to be worked at, many people divorce at the first sign of trouble, though I think that if divorce hadn't been frowned upon in my parent's time, there'd have been many more marriages which didn't last. Some couples stayed together in loveless, and sometimes, violent marriages so it's hard to say we should go back to those times.

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  8. Thank you for sharing your family anniversary with us . May your parents enjoy their anniversary and may they have many more! Things were definitely built to last in their time!

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    1. Thank you. They certainly were. It's sad that there aren't as many marriages these days which last as long.

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  9. How lovely. They are an inspiration to all of us. I love looking at old wedding photos, so thank you for sharing and happy anniversary to your lovely parents!

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    1. Thank you. I love looking at old wedding photos too. I like to see all the different fashions which have come and gone over the years.

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  10. Lovely story, happy anniversary to them, such an achievement. My grandparents reached 60 years and had the telegram from the Queen to add to their album, wonderful to look back at fashion and social history. Facinating researching our own history. I encouraged my grandparents to write all their stories before they were unable to, so lovely to re-read their lives. Perhaps it is something we all should do?

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    1. Having reasearched my own family tree, I think it would be wonderful for us all to write down our own memories and key events of our lives, I'd have loved to have unearthed such a thing from one of my ancestors. How lovely that your grandparents received a telegram from the queen for their diamond anniversary, something very special for them indeed.

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  11. Congratulations to your Mum and Dad. Beautiful photographs and an album to treasure how wonderful. It will be my parents Diamond Wedding Anniversary this year. Lets hope they all have many more happy years together. X

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    1. Thank you. How exciting for all your family, a diamond anniversary. I bet there'll be some celebrating done.

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  12. Congratulations to your mum and dad, Jo. 58 years is definitely something to be proud of! :o)

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    1. Thank you. It certainly is, I bet it's hard to remember a time they weren't together now.

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  13. Hi Jo,

    It is these sorts of memories that your children - and later generations - will really treasure. I always feel sad when I see things like this turn up at car-boot sales, because I think 'who wouldn't value or want to keep this?'. It's such a rare and precious thing to keep down the generations. And congratulations on 58 years - that's certainly something to celebrate!

    Best wishes,

    Tash from vintagepretty.org

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    1. Thank you. I agree, it's so sad when people don't look after and appreciate these treasures from their family. There will be a whole host of things that I'll be passing on to my children, whether they want them or not! I do hope they do.

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  14. Wow, 58 years is great and a belated congrats to them. Just doing some catching up "again". Take care.

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    1. Thank you. I think it's amazing to have been married so long, I hope Mick and I make it to 58 years.

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  15. Wow 58 years! Congratulations to them, that's lovely!

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    1. Thank you. They must have seen some changes over the years, that's for sure.

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  16. Congratulations to them. 61 years for my parents this year ... how wonderful to be happy together for so long :)

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    1. Thank you. It was your parent's diamond wedding anniversary then last year. I love to hear of marriages surviving for so long, there seems to be so many divorces these days.

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  17. Don't they look so smart and so happy!
    I wish them both a very happy (belated) anniversary, hope they enjoyed their special day. What a wonderful piece of family treasure you have been given.
    Lisa x

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    1. Thank you. In the photo of them getting in to the car, you can just see that snow was on the ground. It must have been colder than it's been this year. I'm thrilled with the album, it's something I'll treasure.

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