On their diamond wedding anniversary, the happy couple spoke about how the area has changed over the past six decades
The pair are celebrating an incredible 60 years of marriage
When Alan and Pauline Dixon tied the knot 60 years ago today, England were months from winning the World Cup, man had yet to step foot on the moon, and Lyndon B. Johnson was president of the United States.
The Chellaston couple’s deep love for one another has remained strong amidst the changing world around them – change which has seen Derby, and their local area, become almost unrecognisable from what it was.
Their story began in 1964, when a quarrel between Alan and his partner at the time prompted Pauline to step in.
“I must’ve said something to annoy her, because my old girlfriend stamped her high-heels on my foot when she was sat on my lap,” Alan laughed.
“Pauline thought, ‘That’s not very nice,’ and we got talking. To put a long story short, I ditched the girl, and Pauline and I have been together for 60 years since.”
Their love blossomed, and they eventually tied the knot on March 25, 1966, at Holy Trinity Church on London Road.
They tied the knot at a church on London Road in March 1966
Pauline grew up in the town centre, while Alan grew up in Shelton Lock.
Alan worked at Rolls-Royce from the age of 15, and Pauline was working at the Co-op, in Allenton, at the time. After spending a few years living in Shelton Lock, the pair moved to Chellaston so their children, Samantha, Tracey, and Rachel, could go to Chellaston Academy.
It was there that Pauline became known to Chellaston locals as a dinner lady at the school, where she worked for 30 years from the early 1980s.
Alan also became a recognisable face to many, making long-lasting friendships during his 43 years working at Rolls-Royce, friends he still sees regularly to this day.
Now both aged 82, the Dixons are proud Derby folk, and “wouldn’t want to live anywhere else” besides their home in the south of the city.
Speaking on life in Chellaston over the years, Alan said: “It’s expanded, that’s for sure. This house we live in now was one of the new-builds back in the 80s, but there have been a lot more built since then.”
“We love Chellaston, it’s a very nice place. One of my favourite things is definitely the bus service, we often go up to Belper and to Darley Abbey on the bus, it’s just so easy to get around,” added Pauline.
(L-R) Alan, eldest daughter Samantha, and Pauline
“But we also have lots of shops, a chemist, opticians – it just has everything you need, you rarely need to leave the area at all. And the people are lovely, it’s always been a friendly part of Derby.
“The local butchers are still the same as they were back in the day. Of course, we have big supermarkets such as the Lidl these days, which also makes a big difference as well.
“A lot of the pubs have gone. We used to drink at the Red Lion, which was a great pub, and it was only at the end of our road.
“They pulled it down, but luckily they replaced it with a Tesco, which I must admit has been a big help for us.”
While they still love Chellaston, despite all the changes over the last 60 years, the same can’t be said about their views on Derby city centre.
“It’s not really improved over the years, I don’t think,” Alan said.
Pauline added: “It’s depressing. I still go twice a week to see friends, and Alan and I go on the weekends to Marks and Spencer for food shopping, but the actual city centre is not the same as it used to be.
“We used to love going to Assembly Rooms for shows. I think it’s unbelievable that they still haven’t opened it.”
Nowadays, you’ll find the couple walking around the local area together, hand-in-hand. But they have a lot of independence, with Pauline still playing badminton regularly, and Alan seeing friends often and doing his gardening and bowls in the summer months.
Their key to a long and happy marriage? “I do as I’m told,” replied Alan with a chuckle.
“We’re always staying active and keeping healthy, we see lots of friends and have lots of laughs, and we still love eachother now more than ever,” said Pauline.
The couple will celebrate their anniversary with a nice meal at The Malt in Aston-on-Trent this week with their eldest daughter, Samantha, but without doubt their biggest treat will be the pleasure of spending such a special day together.
