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Smitten... for 70 years
HE saw her auburn locks across the church hall and was smitten.
She thought he was handsome and at the grand old age of 18, she didn't want to be left "on the shelf". They got married.
And 70 years later their love is stronger than ever.
Norman and Joan Kirkbright, from Yeadon, Leeds, will celebrate their platinum wedding anniversary next week.
The couple wed in 1940 and have endured the usual ups and downs of married life. But their loyalty to each other has remained unquestionable.
Norman, 94, and Joan, 88, met as youngsters in the choir at St John's Church in Yeadon.
"I was with a friend at the vicar's Christmas party," recalls Joan.
"She said 'look, Norman Kirkbright's coming over to ask me to dance'.
"But he asked me instead."
"Life changed at that moment," says Norman.
The pair became engaged but as war broke out, Norman, a chemicals worker, was called to the Middle East and Africa.
He took 48 hours emergency leave and the couple get married on July 15, 1940.
The newlyweds spent a few precious days together, but they would not see each other again for five years.
"We wrote bags full of letters, I was writing all the time, at least once a week," says Joan.
Norman added: "When I was in Khartoum I would see the flying boats coming in and I knew they were carrying mail. But I just wanted to catch the plane and go home!"
The couple still live in Yeadon in their first ever house, which they bought for 1,000.
While Norman was away, Joan worked as a wages clerk to pay the mortgage.
Joan admits her old-fashioned upbringing helped her cope with the separation.
"You just accepted it and got on with it," says Joan. "I wasn't scared, I never got the feeling that he would not come back. My faith kept me going."
Six years after the pair were married, Norman did come home.
He started teaching at Littlemoor School in Rawdon, later moving to Benton Park School and becoming Head of Maths.
Joan, now a housewife, gave birth to daughter Sally and their son John was born three years later. Three grandchildren and one great-grandchild complete their current brood.
Asked what makes a good marriage, they both agree laughter is vital.
"She is vibrant and keeps me young and we are a good balance," adds Norman. "She complains I don't talk so much but I never have. She talks enough for both of us!"
And what is it about her husband that makes Joan love him?
"I haven't a clue – I just like him!
"After all these years love's a funny thing. I love him and I feel this love but I cannot tell you why I love him. It's just there."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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