Bexhill couple celebrate 65 years of marriage

Married in Bexhill at St Mary Magdalene's church on 22nd February 1944, when they were both nineteen years of age, it was very nearly a marriage that didn't take place as Rene's parents refused to give their consent.

Rene said: "They thought I was too young and that the marriage wouldn't last!"

The couple met when they were just seventeen. Denis's Mum had a lodger named Emily who was a friend of Rene's, and the first time Denis saw Rene was when she went to his house to visit her friend..

Denis saw Rene walking up the path and was instantly attracted, Rene said: "He liked the look of me!" Denis jokingly replied: "That was the poor girls downfall!"

They soon began dating and a year later, despite strong objections from Rene's parents they became engaged.

World War Two was keeping the couple busy, Rene was actively employed as a general assistant at a timber yard - and later as a Red Cross cadet - and Denis was a Private in the Royal Army Ordinance Corps working as a storeman/driver.

At that time, unless aged twenty one, couples could not marry without parental permission, and despite Rene and Denis being devoted to each other, Rene's parents adamantly refused to give permission for them to marry.

However, the young couple were undeterred and Rene applied to the magistrates court to obtain the necessary permission, which they subsequently received.

Both devout Catholics, Rene and Denis married with a full nuptial mass as snow flakes fell on Bexhill and, being wartime there were few honeymoon options open to the newly-weds, so they were grateful for the offer to stay with relatives, in Mitchum Surrey.

However it was not to be the most romantic of wedding nights.

Rene said: "The first three nights of our honeymoon were spent in an air raid shelter with my aunt Beattie and uncle George!"

Despite this unusual start to married life, their subsequent long and happy marriage produced five children, twelve grandchildren and two great grandchildren, most of whom travelled from all over the country to join Rene and Denis for their very special anniversary party.

The couples formula for a successful marriage clearly rubbed off on their family, as they proudly stated that all their children, and two of their grandchildren, have had long and happy marriages, with not one divorce between them.

Denis said the recipe for their married bliss was primarily to, "choose the right one in the first place."

Whilst Rene believes their compatibility is all about being able to agree to differ and stay friends.

She said: "We're so alike, we can agree to differ which is a big thing, we stay calm and are friends."

She added: "We're still in love and I'm very proud of my Den."