Married for 75 years… and more in love than ever!
In July, Alec and Gladys Penstone, from the Isle of Wight, will mark their 75th wedding anniversary. They fell in love in Blitz-hit London and survived years of separation as Alec went to war. Here’s their tale… Gladys, 93, says: ‘He’s been wooing me for
Alec, 94, says: ‘I’ve never looked at anyone else’
‘I’m a true Cockney, born in Hackney within the sound of Bow Bells.
I was 15 when I volunteered for the ARP (Air Raid Precautions), delivering messages during the air raids. When shelters and buildings collapsed, I pulled bodies from the rubble.
So I grew up rather quickly… On 16 June, 1943, aged 18, I signed up for the Royal Navy. The next thing, I was on an old
First World War submarine on its way to Russia.
It was so leaky, I didn’t expect to come back.
But I ended up in London early morning Christmas Eve 1943 on seven days’ leave. I had nowhere to go as my mother and young brother had been evacuated.
So I headed to my aunt’s. There was a young lady there, my cousin Alf’s fiancée, Betty. He was away and it was pitch dark due to the blackout so I walked her home.
When we got to her house, she said, “Come in and meet the family.”
Inside was this lovely 17-year-old young lady – Betty’s sister, Gladys – and we started talking.
She was appearing in panto on Boxing Day, as she was a dancer. There was no mistletoe but I asked if I could kiss her goodnight.
On Boxing Day morning, I went to see her at the theatre. For the next four days I was a Stage Door Johnny. I took her to work in the morning and collected her at night.
I was smitten.
Gladys was so friendly, as well as being a lovely-looking girl – I couldn’t help but fall in love with her.
I had to go back to the Navy and Scotland by New Year, but by the time I left we were courting.
After war finished over here, I was told I had to go to the Far East. I’d survived 10 Arctic convoys and D-Day and I always thought my luck was going to run out.
I had seven days’ leave and told Gladys I’d like to get
married. I was 20, Gladys was 18, but because we were minors our parents had to consent. They could see we were in love, so they agreed.
But when we went to see our vicar he laughed and said “no way – I have to call the banns for three weeks”.
We could have a civil ceremony, but we wanted a church wedding. The only way around it was to go to see the Archbishop of Canterbury.
So we went to see him on the Wednesday. We told him our story, swore on the Bible it was true and he agreed to help. He gave us a licence to marry in any Church of England church with three hours’ notice.
I’ve still got it framed on the wall – it’s in beautiful parchment with a big red seal on it .
“If you want to get married now, I can marry you in one of the chapels in the abbey – you and Gladys – on the spot,” he offered. But my future wife said: “Oh no – I want my friends and relations there.”
So we were married that Saturday at our local church– we had a bit of a do and family and friends pooled their coupons to give us a spread.
I’d sent a telegram to my skipper asking for a 48-hour extension of leave which was granted as long as I went straight to Liverpool after, on the Monday.
I got married at 2.30pm on the Saturday afternoon – by 7am Monday morning I was on my way out to the Far East after less than 48 hours of married life together.
I wasn’t to see my new wife again for 14 months.
But 75 years on – and one daughter, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren – we’re still here together.
Gladys was my only girlfriend – I’d never had one before. And I’ve never looked at anyone else – I’ve never wanted to.
If it were possible, I love Gladys even more now than when we married.’ ‘ We married on 21 July, 1945. I was 18. Most of the marriages at that time were between young people – some didn’t last long. But the majority did, like the Queen and Prince Philip.
I think it’s because we went through such a hard time. Alec went off to war and of course I worried so much about him.
We’ve had our ups and downs, though. Two days after our wedding, he had to leave and didn’t come home until 14 months later.
I didn’t feel I was married – you can’t feel married in two days – so I just carried on going out with my friends, going to the cinema. My life didn’t change.
When I knew Alec was coming home I just felt “ooh– I don’t know…”
He turned up at 8.30 in the morning. I was in bed, he came up and went ‘I’m home’, so I said to him: ‘I don’t think I love you any more. I don’t think I want to be married.’
Can you imagine how he felt, coming back and hearing that? He took it well, and said, ‘Can I try to woo you back? ‘
Now, 75 years on, here we are. He’s still wooing me.
We’ve been together 77 years. I know people who have been married two years and then say: ‘we’re separating, I can’t get on with him’. And that’s it.
I think, ‘goodness gracious me – I don’t know what they want from marriage, I really don’t’.
Our secret for a happy marriage? Don’t expect so much, too quickly.
But I’ve been very lucky. I’ve got a husband who’s been wonderful to me.
We’ve had 75 very precious years together. It’s been lovely.’