FRIENDSHIP, trust, compromising and working together to resolve problems.
That’s the secret to a long and happy marriage, according to Irene (Rene) and Joseph Allsopp who celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on December 13.
The loving couple met in 1944 at the labour exchange in Small Heath, Birmingham where Rene was working.
They married three years later in 1947 at Acocks Green Methodist church in Shirley Road.
They first lived on Tibland Road, Acocks Green, then moved to Charingorth Road in Sheldon.
Joe said: “We had a plan in 1956 to emigrate to Canada and I spent some time out there looking for a place to live and work, but it was not easy after the war so I came back to England and we settled on Lode Lane in Solihull.”
The 92-year-old worked in engineering at JLR and then he spent about 13 years at Birmingham Airport ending up as an inspector.
Rene, 91, was a civil servant at the ministry of labour up until the birth of their daughter, Lynne in 1950 and then Sue came along in 1954.
The couple have two grandchildren Michelle and David.
Rene and Joe both loved to travel and experienced many adventures on holidays, especially travelling around Canada, America and Europe in the 1970s and 80s, as well as taking their granddaughter Michelle to Disney World in Florida in 1989.
Their time is now taken up with a quiet life reading and doing crossword puzzles.
Joe enjoys maintaining their garden – under Rene’s supervision – and his vegetable patch at the bottom of it.
Rene still likes growing her tomatoes.
Joe also still takes Rene shopping and they go for Sunday lunch at their daughter Lynne’s house fortnightly.
