Littlehampton couple were destined to be together

Little did Paul and Brenda Watts, both 80, of Harting Road, know that a simple dance, as teenage sweethearts, would blossom into 60 years of married bliss.

However, former Ford Parish Council chairman Paul said that their relationship had been written in the stars, years before they even laid eyes upon each other.

He said: “Our relationship was absolutely fate. It was just meant to be.”

Paul, who moved from London to Littlehampton when he was 12, explained that members of his family and Brenda’s already knew one another, with some of them even working together, years before the couple first met, at the former Top Hat dance club, in Surrey Street.

“We had been married for about 12 months,” said Paul.

“It was by chance I found out that I had an uncle in the fruit trade who worked with Brenda’s sister’s brother-in-law, at the same shop, in London.

“A year or two later I found out that my cousin also worked with Brenda’s family.

“I always used to think to myself that our relationship was fate. It was destined to be, I guess.”

A few years after first meeting, the couple tied the knot on December 8, 1951, at St Margaret’s Church, in Angmering.

However, the first few months of marriage proved to be difficult for the young couple after Paul and his father, who owned the now-closed W. Watts grocery store, in High Street, moved to Australia for what, they thought, was a lucrative job offer, in spring, 1952.

Brenda was devastated by the move.

She said: “I really missed him. I can remember my mum used to cry herself to sleep at night, because she thought I would be moving to Australia, too.”

However, after only eight weeks, Paul and his father moved back to the country, after their job offer fell through.

Brenda and Paul lived in Littlehampton for several years, raising two children in the town.

The couple owned the former Clifton Restaurant, in the High Street, for more than a decade, before moving to Yapton.

They now have four grandchildren and claim that the secret to marital success is always having a strong family bond.

Paul said: “I’m a big believer of family life. I think people who don’t have family around them, miss out on something. We have had small arguments, like everyone. But nothing massive. It’s all about give and take.”

Their daughter, Alison, 53, added: “They were destined to be together. Sixty years on, and they still are.”