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This is the first in what I hope to be many, of my new regular feature; Weddings Past. This week we start with Betty and Doug.
Born in 1931, Betty Lillian York met Douglas Wesbroom at a dance, where he was the drummer of the band. Yes, that’s right. Betty pulled the drummer! Rock ‘n’ Roll hey? She was 16 at the time and the teenage sweethearts (he had just turned 20) knew they were in love. They married in 1950, July 29th, the same year that the Royal Princess Anne was born. Nat King Cole’s Mona Lisa was topping the charts and Uruguay had just one the fourth ever FIFA World Cup.
The wedding took place locally at the Harwich Road Congregational Church. Betty wore a bought dress, making her quite the glamour queen in a time when dresses were often made or handed down the family line. The reception was held in the church hall, which meant no alcohol at all-not even a toast!
Betty and Doug celebrated a Golden Wedding anniversary and were still happily married 58 years later, when sadly Doug passed away, having spent his last few years supporting Betty in her fight against cancer. The couple had 3 children, 9 grandchildren and many more great grandchildren.
This first photo shows Betty and Doug posing for their engagement announcement, Doug looking very dapper in his suit and tie.
Betty had three bridesmaids, her younger sister Pam (centre), elder sister Elsie (right) and her friend (left).
The photographer in me couldn’t resist putting these two individual photos of Betty side my side to show the contrast. The first is the black and white original, the second is the edited version with added colour. Way back in the days before Photoshop, I’m intrigued to know how they added Betty’s red flowers and rosy cheeks!
In loving memory of Betty and Douglas Wesbroom.
