'Britain has changed, but not the prejudice'

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One of Britain's most enduring gay couples celebrate 50th anniversary

By Rob Sharp
Tuesday, 28 September 2010SHARE PRINTEMAILTEXT SIZE NORMALLARGEEXTRA LARGE
How do you make a relationship last 50 years? Answer: select a compatible partner, maintain mutual respect and self-prescribe a lot of laughter.

That was the advice of Ted Spring, 73, who is this month celebrating half a century with his partner Paul Pollard, 72, making the two retired hoteliers from Plymouth one of the most enduring gay couples in Britain.

"We're always there for each other," Mr Spring said yesterday. "No one can say anything negative about either one of us without his partner sticking up for him. We don't have big arguments. Of course, we have rows, just the same as any couple. But he makes me laugh. He's such a character."

The pair met in 1960 when Mr Pollard was 22 and working at Plymouth's The Green Lantern restaurant as a chef and Mr Spring was an able seaman stationed in the nearby Devonport naval base. They first caught sight of each other in the Lockyer Hotel, then just one of two gay bars in the city. Two weeks later, they met again and started living together shortly afterwards. "He had fantastic eyes," Mr Spring said.

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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britain-has-changed-but-not-the-prejudice-2091295.html