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The stars of my Wedding’s Past feature this week are Mary and Bill. Except they’re not. Not because they’re not stars, but rather because they are not Mary and Bill. Officially, this happy couple were named Christine and William, but Christine Mary Green and William Collinson were better known to friends and family as Mary and Bill, so that is how I will remember them today. Bill and Mary met in the early 50’s when she was serving in the canteen he stopped at for a bite to eat. Bill was serving in the army as a truck driver and Mary was a waitress in the soldier’s canteen he frequented.
They married on the 1st of January 1953. A brave choice in snowy weather, thank goodness the fashion for wedding dresses back then included sleeves! Mary was 25 and Bill a year her senior, they celebrated their union in Mistley Church and followed it with a reception at a nearby Masonic Hall. Bill’s sister Marge (left) was one bridesmaid, whilst Mary’s aunt Betty was the other (pictured right). Unable to afford the most glamorous of wedding rings, Mary’s band was in the shape of a thre’pny bit.
Now, although their first child, Peter, wasn’t born until three years after they wed, Pete now insists it’s him staring out of the window of the hall in their wedding day picture below! Spooky! Mary and Bill went on to have four children, Peter, Janet and twins Tony and Terry. Sadly Mary past away quite young and never met her numerous grandchildren, including amongst them myself. These photos have clearly seen better days! But even though they are quite damaged, I still love to look at them.
Do you have a weddings past story that you’d love to share on the blog? Just drop me an email (kerrie@kerriemitchell.co.uk) with some photos and any details of the day that you know.
