Ted Spring, 78, and Paul Pollard, 77, first met in a club in 1960 and say it was love at first sight. They have been inseparable ever since and are thought to be Britain's longest-standing gay couple.
Paul was a 22-year-old chef at the time and Ted was an Able Seaman on shore leave from HMS Vigilant. They met at The Lockyer Hotel in Plymouth, Devon, which was one of only two gay bars in the city. Ted had to return to sea for over a year, but they remained faithful and moved in together upon his return.
The couple later ran restaurants, clubs and guest houses together and are now both retired. Ted said: 'I knew from the minute I saw him that this is someone I could spend the rest of my life with.'
It wasn't until seven years after meeting that they could share their feelings publicly, as homosexuality was only decriminalised in 1967. Ted had been engaged to a woman before meeting Paul, but the relationship ended. He said: 'He showed me that no matter who you love, love is beautiful.'
Despite their long relationship, the pair have never wanted to marry. Ted said: 'When you have lived together as long as we have you don't really need a piece of paper.' They have experienced little negativity about their sexuality, though they faced financial difficulties in the 1960s when they could not get a joint mortgage.
