Saughall Massie sweethearts celebrate diamond wedding anniversary

Sep 17 2008 by Laura Jones, Wallasey News

WORLD War Two sweethearts, who were brought together by a pair of trousers, have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

Clarence and Ada French, of Saughall Massie, had an unconventional courtship.

Mrs French, 84, explained: “It was a wartime romance.

“I worked in a factory where we made trousers for the forces, and we were told we hadn’t to put our names in the labels.”

But Ada didn’t take any notice of the rules and put her name and address in a pair of trousers.

She said: “I was 17 when I did it, and I didn’t think anything more about it.”

That was until a handsome RAF recruit called Clarence “Clary” French picked up a packet of trousers.

Ada said: “I was 21 and then I got this letter from abroad - that was how it started!”

After exchanging letters, the pair met for the first time in Liverpool.

“I wore a black coat and a blue flower, and I knew him straight away,” said Ada.

Clary said: “I disembarked in Liverpool.

“We got together and we kissed - because we’d written that much.

“We got engaged about 12 months after and we were married in 1948.”