"Love Lasts Forever..."

55 Happy Years For Plymouth Couple Ted And Paul

Plymouth Herald

September 16, 2015

A COUPLE from Plymouth who are believed to be Britain’s longest gay pairing are celebrating their 55th anniversary this week.

Five years on after making national headlines for their 50th, Ted Spring, 78, and Paul Pollard, 77, say they are still as happy as the day they first met.

It was in 1960 that Paul, who was working as a chef at The Green Lantern restaurant, and Able Seaman Ted, who was on shore leave from HMS Vigilant, first met at The Lockyer Hotel, one of only two gay bars in Plymouth at the time.

“I knew from the minute I saw him that this is someone I could spend the rest of my life with,” Ted told The Herald.

“I was chatting to a friend of his when he came over. He bought me a drink and we just started talking – he’s never bought me a drink since mind you!”

But it wasn’t until 1967 that gay and bisexual men were legally allowed to be together and social stigma surrounding homosexuality made it difficult for the pair to admit their feelings publicly.

“I just wanted to be normal,” Ted admitted. “I’d had girlfriends in the past, but it never felt right. I always knew deep down; I just couldn’t tell anyone.

“I hate hurting people, and that’s why I struggled to come to terms with who I was. When I first met Paul, I was actually engaged to a woman.

“We’d been together before, split and got back together – I just couldn’t face putting her through all that again by telling her I was gay. Luckily, she moved away to London for a job and actually met another man who she fell in love with.

“I was always frightened by the gay side of life, but Paul didn’t care. He always used to say, ‘What’s wrong with being queer? What’s wrong with that? Who cares what people think!’

“He showed me that no matter who you love, or what you love, love is beautiful and, after being with Paul for 55 years, I can honestly say I’ve never been happier.”

Upon quitting the Navy in 1962, Ted got a job working as Paul’s assistant at The Green Lantern.

From 1967 the pair ran Scheherazade, a guesthouse in the city centre. Their famous clientele included a young Michael Barrymore.

“He was a bit full of himself but he was pleasant, “ said Mr Spring. “He knew he was going to do well.”

At the same time, the couple ran a restaurant in a gambling club, the Pussycat Club, based in the Old Palace Theatre.

Between 1972 and 1986 they managed the Laurels Country Club on the city’s outskirts.

They went on to run a smaller guest house, The Breakaway, until they retired in 2000.

Reflecting on their time together, and how society’s views have changed, Ted said he preferred growing up while homosexuality was illegal.

“Society has changed so much,” he added. “I think it was better when it was against the law, if I’m being honest.

“We were like a big family; we all knew who we were and where we could go. You’d go out and visit people on a Sunday for tea and things like that.

“We always used to go for drinks on a Saturday night at The Lockyer Hotel. It was only a little place, but we were used to it and the staff knew us all.

“The country has changed so much, but prejudice still goes on.

“If a lot more people had a better attitude, it would allow for a greater portion of society to live their lives.”