How Bristol couple found love in a newsagent

When a business savvy grandmother invested in a Redfield newsagent more than 100 years ago little did she know it would become a place for finding love.

But when her grandson was introduced to a customer's 17-year-old sister, the shop, in Avonvale Road, took on a new significance, which is still remembered more than 60 years later.

Celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary this week, Sylvia and Doug Bacon said they never dreamt that the chance meeting would lead to them spending the rest of their lives together.

Sylvia, now 79, was living in St John's Lane, Bedminster, when she went to visit her brother in Redfield. He lived just a few doors down from Bacon's newsagent and took his sister in to meet Doug, now 89.

From that meeting the pair became inseparable and were married at St Michael and All Angels church, in Windmill Hill, followed by a reception at the Co-op Hall in St John's Lane.

Sylvia said: "There was still rationing in those days so we had to pay for things with coupons.

"I had a simple white dress and a huge bouquet of cream roses.

"The Evening Post even came to take our wedding photos and we had about 120 people for the reception.

"We then went on a honeymoon in London – that was quite something back then."

After the death of his father, Doug took over the running of the shop, which his grandmother had bought in 1908, and the couple moved into the premises.

"It was a lot of hard work, getting up at 5.30am and sorting out the Sunday papers too," Sylvia said.

"You wouldn't think we'd be able to spend all that time together either; I thought I'd meet someone and be able to wave him off to work every morning instead of working alongside him."

But the couple say communication is the essential ingredient to a long marriage.

Sylvia said: "I think you've always got to be able to talk and share your problems."

After retiring, the pair enjoyed travelling all over America and had a trip to Egypt on their silver wedding anniversary. They also moved to their current home in Carlton Street, Weston-super-Mare.

Sylvia added: "We've each got scooters so we like to go out along the seafront. We don't go abroad anymore but we'll be going to Ilfracombe for a few days."

On Thursday they are hosting a dinner for their close friends to celebrate their anniversary.