My true love story
Maureen, 82, and Roy Shanks, 83, from Walthamstow, East London, have been wed for 62 years – but Roy was almost pipped to the post by a rival…
I was 14 when my best friend Marion introduced me to some boys at the youth club. They were all loud and trying to be cool, but I noticed one called Roy, who was quiet and had the most beautiful blue eyes.
We used to all go round as a crowd, but shy Roy always held back. Another boy who worked with Roy asked me to go out.
I wasn’t very keen as he had no sense of humour, but he would call for me, looking smartly dressed, and always gave my mum flowers or chocolates.
On bonfire night the kids in our council block would gather firewood and bits and pieces to burn. The boys came round and we all had a good night. I stood back with Roy and to my surprise, he asked me out.
We arranged to go to the pictures the following Saturday – a week before my 15th birthday.
His mate was jealous but Roy, who was 17, told him I was with him now.
After two years, Roy asked me to marry him. I asked my dad if we could get engaged on my 18th birthday in November, and he and Mum agreed.
Roy got a well-paid job with his older brother Jimmie building pylons which took him away from home, while I worked as a copy typist. Roy came home for the weekend in June 1959 and we chose engagement rings. We couldn’t wait till November, so we had our engagement party in June – much to my dad’s annoyance. Roy and I saved hard and would scour the local paper for places to rent, until we found a bedsit in Leytonstone. I was 19 and Roy had just turned 21 when we were married on Easter Saturday, April 1, 1961 (far left). The church still had bomb damage so I had to go in the side entrance to walk up the aisle.
After the wedding, we spent our honeymoon on the Isle of Wight. We celebrated 62 years of marriage on April 1 and we have two sons, Kevin and Trevor, a 20-year-old grandson Daniel and two gorgeous step-grandchildren.”
How did you meet the love of your life? Send a current photo and wedding snap in to siobhan.mcnally@mirror.co.uk