We were married on June 24th 1950 at Heworth Church York.

How times have changed since then. In those days there was no such thing as living together before marriage. If you weren't married by age 21 you were 'on the shelf'. There was no safe sex.

As for a girl being pregnant before marriage, that was a terrible blight on the girl's character and her family. There were homes for such girls, and sometimes they would be sent off to relations to have the baby, and it was adopted by them as their own.

Our first daughter was born 10 months after marriage and people were counting on their fingers, July August September October November December January February March April!!!! Hew! we were OK. Our second child was a month premature.

You never saw a pregnant bride and the word bastard was in general use.

The better off had their mistresses and illegitimate children scattered around, while the poor went to the local back street abortionists and sometimes died at their hands.

I am not judging good or bad. I love to see young parents with their families, married or not. Time has moved on and these days are long gone now.

Second and third marriages are common and a good opportunity for people to have special celebrations together who don't have many such chances.

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