‘I still LOVE him now and always will...’
WARTIME PENPALS MARRIED FOR 70 YEARS
THEY began their relationship as penpals as Britain fought against facism... and their wartime letters soon bloomed into romance.
Stockport couple Douglas, 91, and Jean Crockart, 88, are now celebrating 70 years of marriage after their correspondence during the bleakest years of World War Two become a lifelong love.
It all began when Douglas, a young Scottish soldier with the Northern Highland Regiment, caught glimpse of a picture of Jean while he was serving abroad.
And the first leave he had, Douglas visited Jean at her family home in Manchester. And his second leave they spent with his relatives in Dundee, where they got engaged. They married at St Thomas’ Church, Ardwick Green, on November 29 1947, nine days after the Royal wedding, later moving to Marple.
Jean, then just a teenager when she first started her correspondence with Douglas, said: “My dad had sent my photo to a friend and Douglas saw it and got my address to write to me and sent his photo.
“At first I thought he’s not what I’m looking for as I wanted tall, dark and handsome and he was short with red hair.
“But I was attracted to his sense of humour and I still love him now and always will.
“I remember the wedding, I got tuppence to buy a wedding dress, my veil was given to me and neighbours clubbed together to make a cake out of rations. Those were the days.”
After living in Manchester the couple settled in Stockport and are now at Rectory Court, on Church Lane.
They have enjoyed spending time hiking together and have one son, two daughters, seven grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
As well as a congratulatory telegram from the Queen they celebrated at their home with a party for friends and family.
Jean said: “You enjoy doing things together and love being together. Being married for 70 years takes persistence and patience.
“You have to put up with each other and keep talking. You have each other so you need to make the most of it.”