A WEDDING

 

Joyce and Frank were married on 6 October 1945 at Stockton Parish Church.

 

Joyce was twenty two whilst Frank was three years older. The wedding was witnessed by Robert Alexander Howe, and Joyce’s sister, Louisa. Robert was a friend of Frank’s from London: he may have been an orphan and was unable to join the armed forces on account of having some fingers missing.

 

Kind neighbours contributed their rations towards a 3-tiered cake and in the age-old tradition of ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’, Joyce borrowed something: her wedding-dress. The dress had been made for her sister Lily by her sister’s husband’s family who were dressmakers. The bridesmaid dresses were also borrowed.

 

As it was not possible to obtain gold during the war the wedding rings were obtained from a pawn shop – Greenwoods in Middlesbrough – which is why today Joyce has two wedding rings, one on 9 carrat gold and one in 22 carrat gold.

 

The Reception took place at Sparks Caterers Restaurant on the High Street.

 

For their honeymoon the couple travelled to Scarborough. This was a popular detination for young couples in this period.

 

The beach was littered with barbed wire, a relic of the invasion defences.

 

Joyce recalls that Scarborough in October 1945 was ‘very cold’.

 

THE RETURN TO CIVVY STREET AND CHILDREN

 

The young couple lived at first with Joyce’s parents at Walter Street. However soon after they moved into a ‘pre-fab’ at 21, Leicester Road.

 

To address the pot-war housing shortage the Government commissioned thousands of prefabricated houses.

 

Frank was discharged from the RAF on 14 May 1946 with the rank of Warrant Officer. He set about finding employment in his pre-war trade, as a printer. He worked intially for Hodds, Brittain and Wright of Stockton, then for Billingham Press and finally for Heavisides.

 

On 31 October 1948 Frank re-enlisted in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

 

There was one cloud on the horizon. Joyce was advised that as she had had TB she should not have children.

 

However in 1949 she became pregnant.

 

The doctor suggested a termination. Joyce did not understand what was being suggested at first. Horrified, and despite the awe in which doctor’s were held, she refused saying that she would take her chances.

 

 Heather was born on 17 December 1949.

 

In 1953 Joyce, Frank and Heather moved into a council house at 5. Riverhead Avenue on the new Roseworth Estate.

 

The new house was part of the pot-war building boom commissioned by the Labour Government of Clement Atlee. To replace the housing-stock lost during the war, the government built thousands of houses and placed them in the ownership of local authorities, to be rented out to local people. The rent in 1957 was: Bungalows - 17s 6p per week; Two-bedroom houses - 23s 0d per week; Three-bedroom houses -  24s 6d per week; Four bedroom houses - 27s 0d per week

 

In February 1958 Joyce gave birth to Martin.

 

The birth took place at North Riding Maternity Home in Middlesbough, in the North Riding of Yorkshire - God’s Own County!