Lancaster couple celebrate 70 years of marriage this Christmas

Jim and Gwen Bell, aged, 92 and 89, from St Thomas More Walk, say they’ve never argued in their life, despite spending many years working, travelling and living together.

“We have our differences obviously”, Gwen says.

“It’s about survival,” quips Jim.

“He never loses his temper, he’s not one for arguing,” says Gwen.

Born at home in Broadway, Morecambe, Gwen, nee Hewitt, was one of nine children and went to Skerton Juniors and then Ryelands Primary School in the year it opened, before returning to Skerton Seniors.
Jim, who was born in Carlisle, moved to Lancaster aged three when his dad got a job at Standfast & Barracks.

He went to Bowerham School and then Greaves Secondary Modern, leaving school at 14 to join his father where he worked for 25 years.

This is where the couple met, but it wasn’t until Jim returned from military service that the couple got together.

“I had my eye on him before he went in the army,” Gwen said.

“All our friends were getting together and they said, ‘Jim do you still like Gwen?’ and he said ‘yes’ and they asked me and I said yes too.

“So we went on our first date at the County Theatre to watch Boomerang.”

The couple married four years later at St Luke’s in Skerton on Christmas Eve 1949, “to the dismay of all our families”, Gwen said.

“But neither of our mums said anything to us at the time.”

The couple spent a few days in Carlisle, and then both eventually would work for Greenwoods Menswear in Morecambe and Lancaster.

The couple retired in the late 80s after suffering from heart conditions.

Gwen ended up having a quadruple heart bypass.

“They gave me 10 years to live,” she remembers.

“But I followed the dos and don’ts. Our own doctor doesn’t believe it that we’re still here!”

The couple love music and singers, and went regularly to Blackpool to “see all the big stars” including Judy Garland, Eddie Fisher and Sammy Davis Jnr.

Later they went on coach tours across the country with Kero Travel of Morecambe, meeting lots of friends.

Jim has been associated with the North Lancashire and District Football League for 64 years in a whole host of roles.

He is now President of the league.

“They won’t allow him to retire!” Gwen says.

She describes Jim, who is also a life long member of Morecambe Amateur Operatics Society as a “lovely writer and drawer”.

The couple had no children, at least “not yet” according to Jim, but say they have regular visits and help from nieces and nephews who they say they “couldn’t do without.”

They’ll be celebrating their Platinum wedding anniversary with their family over Christmas and in the New Year.