VICTORY In Europe (VE) Day in 1945 was joyous for all involved after six miserable years of war.
But for one Solihull couple it was made a little sweeter as an RAF signal operator declared his love to his teenage sweetheart.
And now, almost 80 years later, Ronald and Selma Pearson have celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary.
To mark their special day the couple enjoyed a slice of cake at St Giles’ care home, where they live in neighbouring rooms, with friends and family where cake all the ladies were given a small posy of flowers from Ronald and Selma.
They married on a snowy March 31 at Langley Elim Church.
Selma’s sister made all the bridesmaids dresses and ration tokens were saved up for them to have enough food at the reception.
The couple had three children, seven granchildren and eight great-granchildren, with two more on the way in the summer.
They were friends for a while and often went biking together and just after Selma’s 15th birthday, on VE Day Ron told Selma he was in love with her.
Ron was a butcher, then went in the RAF as a signal operator, then back to being a butcher and then became a full time rep for a building company, whilst at the same time pastoring a church, with two meetings on Sunday plus Sunday school, a children’s club in the week and an evening Bible study.
Their daughter, Kay, said: “He was very busy, especially on a Sunday, giving out to so many but he always promised us Saturday was our day and we had so much fun as a family and have many wonderful memories of our childhood.”
Ron was a minister at the Elim church and pastored a church in Garretts Green, Yardley.
Kay said as Ron watched Chelmsley Wood being built, from his home in Marston Green, he felt the need to plant a church there.
The church began in a small community hall but Ron applied for some land and eventually Solihull Council gave permission for a church to be built on a piece of land next to the community centre.
The Elm Church on Walnut Close was completed in 1981 and led by Pastor Ron until he retired.
It is now under the Renewal Christian Centre.
Over the years Selma kept home and supported Ron in the church ministry and when the children were older, held a part time secretarial job for a few years, which paid for their annual holiday.
Ronald said the secret to their long marriage is: “Always respecting each other and treating each other the same as if you are still courting.”
