Diamond Waltz

Meeting at a wartime dance, Cyril and Joyce Greaves waltzed through 60 years of marriage to celebrate their Diamond Wedding Anniversary with family and friends on the Costa Blanca.

They enjoyed a “lovely day” for their 1949 wedding and were blessed with perfect weather for the anniversary celebrations in Javea Port, near their home.

The couple, who have four children and 10 grandchildren, retired to Spain in 1988, first to a villa in Moraira, before downsizing to their present apartment.

“It has been an excellent marriage,” said Cyril. “We would not change anything really. We have been very lucky health wise and with our children and grandchildren.”
And Joyce added: “I would not swap him! We are a very close knit family.”

TWIN

Cyril told how they first met in East Yorkshire. “My wife is a twin and my best friend was going out with her sister – I told him I had seen these two girls cycling to school and I would like to meet the twin. “It was at an Air Training Corps dance where we met for the first time.”

On July 2nd, 1949, Cyril and Joyce were married at St John’s Church, Clough Road, Hull, and enjoyed a honeymoon in South Wales.

A career engineer, Cyril was exempt from military service because he worked in the vital aircraft industry and the newlyweds set up home in Bristol. Work commitments saw them move between the West Midlands, Sheffield and the Peak District before he retired as managing director of the largest copper tube manufacturer in England.

TEACH

And after bringing up her children, Joyce became a junior school teacher. “Cyril said I would not stick it out but I was very determined and would not give in at all – I really enjoyed it.”

Enjoying life together in Javea, the couple walk into the port every day to meet friends and chat. Cyril and Joyce also take advantage of the many restaurants in the area as both love eating out.

Joyce also keeps busy working in the Cancer Care Shop in Javea Park, while until recently Cyril was a committee member of Javea Computer Club.  He added: “After six years on the committee, I decided that there were plenty of younger people to have a go at it.”

The couple were also delighted to receive a signed card from the Queen – resplendent with its Buckingham Palace postmark and ‘ER’ initials on the envelope.