55 years together: Is this Britain's most enduring gay couple?

Meet 78-year-old Ted Spring and 77-year-old Paul Pollard, the Plymouth couple widely believed to be in Britain’s longest gay partnership. The pair are celebrating their 55th anniversary this week. They met way back in 1960 – seven years before the decriminalisation of homosexuality – and say they’re as happy now as the day they met.

Former Navy man Ted first met Paul, who was working as a chef, while on shore leave from the HMS Vigilant at The Lockyer Hotel – one of only two gay bars in Plymouth at the time.

“I knew from the minute I saw him that this is someone I could spend the rest of my life with,” Ted told The Plymouth Herald.

“I was chatting to a friend of his when he came over. He bought me a drink and we just started talking – he’s never bought me a drink since mind you!”

While the couple hit it off straight away, they were forced to keep their relationship under wraps for several years until homosexuality was decrminalised in England and Wales in 1967 – and even then, they struggled to be open about their feelings for one another.

“I just wanted to be normal,” Ted admitted. “I’d had girlfriends in the past, but it never felt right. I always knew deep down; I just couldn’t tell anyone.

“I hate hurting people, and that’s why I struggled to come to terms with who I was. When I first met Paul, I was actually engaged to a woman.

“We’d been together before, split and got back together – I just couldn’t face putting her through all that again by telling her I was gay. Luckily, she moved away to London for a job and actually met another man who she fell in love with.

He continued: “I was always frightened by the gay side of life, but Paul didn’t care. He always used to say, ‘What’s wrong with being queer? What’s wrong with that? Who cares what people think!’

“He showed me that no matter who you love, or what you love, love is beautiful and, after being with Paul for 55 years, I can honestly say I’ve never been happier.”

The couple, who worked in hospitality together after Ted quite the navy in 1962 until their retirement in 2000, also reflected on how society’s attitude towards homosexuality has changed over the course of their relationship, and admitted that the LGBT community was a closer-knit one when attitudes were more oppressive.

“Society has changed so much,” Ted explained. “I think it was better when it was against the law, if I’m being honest.

“We were like a big family; we all knew who we were and where we could go. You’d go out and visit people on a Sunday for tea and things like that.

“We always used to go for drinks on a Saturday night at The Lockyer Hotel. It was only a little place, but we were used to it and the staff knew us all.

“The country has changed so much, but prejudice still goes on.

“If a lot more people had a better attitude, it would allow for a greater portion of society to live their lives.”

A very happy 55th anniversary Ted and Paul – here’s to many more years to come.

55 years together: Is this Britain’s most enduring gay couple?

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