No place like home

Jun 22 2009 By Rusell Butt

A COUPLE who left the area they love to start a new life, soon returned - their love for the place and each other is as strong as ever.

Alan and Joyce Beadle have lived in Spelthorne and Runnymede all their lives, but moved to Wales for a new beginning. It didn't work out and they soon returned.

On Saturday, June 20, the stalwart couple celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

Alan, 71 and Joyce, 72 from Larksfield, Englefield Green, were both born in London, but grew up in Stanwell.

Despite growing up just streets away from one another and being in the same year at St Anne's School, Stanwell, until 11-years-old they didn't meet until they were both in secondary school.

Alan was at Ashford Grammar School, Joyce at Ashford Secondary Modern School. The two met one night at the St Anne's Youth Club in Stanwell.

"I used to sit on the stage there and play the records," reminisced Joyce. "And that's when I saw her and took a fancy to her," added Alan.

Alan asked Joyce to dance, they courted for three years, before getting engaged at 19.

The couple enjoyed nights out together, dancing at Town Hall in Staines most weekends - walking there and back from Stanwell as they didn't have a car.

They got married at 21 at Stanwell Church in 1959. They paid for the wedding themselves as money was tight, especially with Joyce being the sixth of 11 children.

The reception was held at the Wheatsheaf in Stanwell and the happy couple honeymooned in Clacton-on-Sea.

"When we arrived at the hotel, they told us we had to be in by 11 o'clock, but I had wanted to do a midnight walk down the beach," said Joyce.

The couple lived in a caravan in Langley for three years, then lived in Stanwell Moor for three years, before spending 12 years in Anglesey Close, Ashford.

Alan was a keen footballer, in his time playing for Long Lane FC, Spelthorne Sports FC and Fulham Villa.
In 1980 the couple moved to Llandrindod Wells in mid-Wales to pursue a career in the pub industry. It didn't work out and they returned to the UK 18 months later, moving to Englefield Green.

Alan said: "After living in countryside in Wales, we got used to the open spaces. We couldn't move back to Ashford or Stanwell as it felt too closed in - we have got the park out the back here."

They remained in Englefield Green raising their family, three sons, Keith who is now 43, Tony, 42 and Pete 40. The couple have four grandchildren.

They doting couple celebrated their anniversary at Ashford Manor Gold Club, in the presence of some 120 guests.

Alan has his own theory about how the two have stayed enamoured so long.

He said: "I would say the secret to lasting is sharing and caring for each other and our family.

"That, and never going to sleep without saying good night to each other - we still do that."