This was taken from Mick’s own words which he had written in his journal when he was well:

“I didn’t meet Pauline, she met me, her friend was dating my best friend Pitchy (Clifford Pitchford). He was a joiner and had done some work for my sister, she came knocking at my door, one Sunday afternoon. I had just come back from shooting, and was in all my scruffs. When I opened the door there was this beautiful young lady, only 15 and just left school, and she asked where Pitchy was working, so i took her just a few days away to where he was working, and left her there, but I had just met the most beautiful girl in the world. I had never believed in love at first sight, thought it was a load of cobblers, and then it goes and happens to me. I met Pauline the next night, and that’s how it has been for the rest of my life and I still love her as much as I did from day 1.

A night out for us both would all depend on the weather, if it was nice, we would go for a walk, if it was raining, we would stop in. But, if I had any money we would go to the flicks.
When we stayed in, my parents were always there, so we would not be left on our own,but that’s just how it was in those days, you just made the best of it.

We married on a very cold December day on the 22nd in 1962, it was very sunny and dry, what a wonderful day it was! We were so happy, all our family and friends were there, and we held our reception at the Teversal Miners Welfare. We were married at St Andrews church in Skegby, we all had a lovely time, alas, there was no honeymoon, it was 2 days holiday from work and that was it.

We lived in lodgings with an old lady in Teversal, but we were very happy and I had got my sweetheart. Lots of people were whispering “it won’t last” Pauline was only 17 years old, but only time would prove all the doubters wrong”

Wendy and Debbie continue their story…… Mick and Pauline went on to have 3 children, Kevin who was born on the 24th of May 1963, closely followed by his sister Debbie, who was born on the 28th of August 1964, and finally Wendy who was born on the 19th of November 1967.

Mick was a miner at Teversal Colliery and Pauline worked at the Meritina factory as a machinist. Once they had married, Mick had put his name down for a pit house and after a 2 years wait, they were given a pit house on Co-operative Street on Stanton Hill, this was perfect as his mum and dad (Clare and Percy, together with his brother Derek) lived right next door and his sister Eileen and brother in law Dennis lived a few doors up the street.

The rest of the story is taken from Micks Journal:

“Meanwhile as the pits started to close I was still too young to retire so I went taxi driving which I enjoyed meeting
different people. I spent a short time printing labels for Marks and Spencer’s which I found difficult having never used a computer before. Then after working as a gardener and handyman a job came up as a security guard. I loved every minute and stayed until I was 65.

It was a lovely feeling when Pauline and I found out we were going to be grandparents to Jenna, Lee, Daniel, Tom and later Krista, Abbie, Amy and George. I was only 42 years old when our first grandchild was born so I had plenty of energy to spend time with the grandchildren whenever Pauline and I weren’t at work.

Despite working so hard we were always there to see the grandchildren at every opportunity and always at Christmas – we would never have missed their faces on Christmas mornings. I would always tell my granddaughters to keep smiling as girls with a smile on their face look a lot prettier than looking glum!

Pauline and I were able to enjoy holidays together in our later life including France, Germany, Bavaria, and Venice but nowhere compared to Austria. We both loved it – the most beautiful place on God’s earth.

I have now been blessed with having our great grandchildren, Lewis, Emily, Skyler, Jack and also Ava who sadly passed when she was just 5 years old.

Even in these later years I will never be bored. I just love filling my days and keeping my mind busy at my allotment, walking, watching Chelsea play or horse racing. I love them all. I always wanted to walk the Pennine Way – all 270 miles of it with a rucksack and tent. I hope this doesn’t make me sound like a boring old fart and maybe I should say I was in the SAS or the second man on the moon – who cares!!
My family asked me for some good advice and I would say – be yourself, be nice and be polite to people and that niceness will bounce back to you. And as for the girls in my family, just remember ladies don’t swear, don’t smoke, don’t have tattoos! And finally my epitaph? ‘Please do not disturb’”

This is our mum’s story, and unlike dad she did not keep a journal, so we have completed this…..
Pauline was born on the 9th September 1945 to Gladys Lewis at Kings Mill Hospital Sutton-in-Ashfield. Pauline was one of 7 siblings and spent her school life at Westbourne School. She had a troubled childhood but her mum and siblings were all very close and supported each other through this.
On leaving school Pauline worked as a machinist at the C.W.S. factory in Huthwaite which later became Meritina. She made lifelong friends here. Pauline met Mick in their early teens. It was love at first sight
and from that moment onwards they did everything together. Pauline soon moved in with Mick’s sister Eileen and brother-in-law Dennis.

They were married on the 22 nd of December 1962 at St Mary’s Church Sutton when Pauline was 17 years old. Together they had three children, Kevin, Debbie and Wendy. Their married life started in a rented room of a shared house, before moving into their first family home on Co-op Street Stanton Hill. This followed a further move to Teversal where they remained until 1984, when they moved into their new bungalow in Blackwell, Derbyshire.
Pauline and Mick were soulmates and did everything together.
Pauline was a very accomplished seamstress, and had the front room of her house on Fackley Road at Teversal for sewing and knitting, where she made all the children’s clothes. Whilst sewing away, Pauline would always have the stereogram playing, and loved listening to all different genres of music from pop to opera. The highlight of mum’s week would be to listen to the Top 20 on the radio every Sunday evening.

The family did not own a car, at this time, but weekends were for walks at old Teversal, or Sutton Lawn, there was always a picnic made and these were very happy days for the family. Pauline cooked a dinner and pudding every day, even through the summer months, which didn’t always go down well with her children! She would often walk home from the Meritina, with Jessie her friend, calling in at the butchers on Stanton Hill and the Co-op to ensure that the family always had a hot meal. Vegetables were supplied by Mick from his garden or allotment. The family always had a week’s holiday, in a caravan at Skegness, and when Mick got his first car, they travelled further afield to Scarborough, Wales and Devon. They also visited Pauline’s sister Margaret in Blackpool.

In 2000 Mick and Pauline bought a caravan at the North Shore caravan site at Skegness, where they spent many happy years. Pauline loved to garden and Mick bought her a greenhouse which meant she could grow all her own bedding plants and tomatoes. Gardening was her great passion, and she created a garden around her caravan which was as beautiful as the one at home.
In the Summer of 2017 Mick had a severe stroke, Pauline was adamant, with her care and love and the help of carers and family members, that he would remain at home, with her which he did up until his death in March 2020.
During this difficult time Pauline continued to look after her home and garden. All the family visited regularly and
she especially loved seeing her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Sadly, our mum passed away on the 23rd of August, following a ten year battle with Leukemia.