My true love story
Despite standing up her future husband-to-be to go dancing in South London, Bob, 88, and 86-year-old Phyllis Sentinella, in Bracknell, Herts, have been wed for 68 years, and still treasure every day…
I first saw Phyllis sitting outside Trowell Garden Centre on her break and I thought how beautiful she was with her long black hair, big brown eyes and smile to die for.
This was in 1955, and I was applying for a job at the garden firm in Clapham, South London.
When I started work, I found out all the lads there fancied Phyllis, but she was seeing a chap called Norman so I gave up any chance of romance.
It was only when he went into the navy and they broke up that I decided to try my luck. I asked her out on a date and to my surprise she said yes.
We arranged to meet at 6.30pm at the corner of the street. I was very excited – and even had a bath! I rode up on my Triumph Speed Twin motorcycle, but Phyllis didn’t turn up. Little did I know that she had no intention of meeting me and instead had gone to the Locarno Dance Hall in Streatham.
I was in a sulk and didn’t speak to her for a whole week. However we began talking again, and went out every day to the pictures. Five months later at the Regal cinema, I asked Phyllis to be my wife.
We married at the registry office and after being given an ironing board and a pair of sheets as wedding presents, we went back to work the next day.
Home was a little bedsit with a pot under the bed, and a radio for company.
I then went to work for Clark Eaton Glass Factory in Bracknell for 45 years, and Phyllis was a cook, sometimes working three jobs at once.
We moved from London to Huntingdon, and then here to Bracknell, and we had three daughters – Julie, Linda and Mandy – and six grandchildren and 14 greatgrandkids!
It’s been 68 years since our beautiful wedding day, but sadly now Phyllis has health problems so every day we have together is a bonus.”
■ How did you meet the love of your life? Send a current photo and wedding picture to siobhan.mcnally@mirror.co.uk