Charles and Rita are proof that true love endures

CHARLES and Rita Bailey met in Durham in 1952.

The local lass was studying at Durham University, while Charles served with the Durham Light Infantry.

They fell head over heels for each other but, soon after they met, Charles was posted to Korea.

Around eight months later, he returned to the UK and asked Rita’s father for her hand in marriage. He agreed but asked them to wait a while before setting a date.

But the following year Charles booked three weeks’ leave and he and his sweetheart took the train to Troon, where they intended to be married.

There was a three-week wait for wedding bands, so they booked into a guest house.

Meanwhile, their parents weren’t happy, especially Rita’s dad, who went to the police.

Charles and Rita were married in Troon Old Parish Church on September 4, 1954.

That was a Saturday and they had to return to Durham the same night, as Charles had to be back in his barracks the following day.

They were soon given a house in married quarters and settled into married life.

After his service ended, they moved to Charles’ home city of Cardiff.

He became a paramedic, Rita was a teacher and they had two sons, Paul and Mark.

Now 87 and 82, Charles and Rita were on a family holiday with Paul recently in Bute.

They were travelling through Ayrshire, so Paul thought it would be nice to pass by the church in Troon, which his parents hadn’t visited since their wedding day. When they turned up there just happened to be a coffee morning on, so not only were they able to go inside for a look around but the current minister, David Prentice-Hyers, was also there to greet them.

Paul said his parents became very emotional when they walked around the church once again and it brought back lots of special memories.

It just goes to prove that true love does last for ever.