Perfect ten for bride of 1955

Aug 30 2005 By Catherine Lillington, Evening Mail

JOAN Lacey must be the envy of married women everywhere.

The svelte 69-year-old, of Verbena Road, Northfield, slipped back into her 1955 wedding dress for her golden anniversary.

The perfect ten, who has two children, said wearing the lace dress, created by bridesmaid Christine Berry, brought memories flooding back of her wedding at St Cyprian's, in Hay Mills.

"It was really special to wear it again - I just cried," she said. "The wedding day itself came in a flash and was gone, but wearing my dress a second time in front of family and close friends did bring back those memories.

"And it brought a few tears to a few people's eyes."

Retired accounts worker Joan met Ted at a YWCA dance in Stechford when she was 17. Ted asked Joan to dance and offered to walk her home - but Joan took the initiative a year later and proposed.

Proud Ted, aged 73, who used to work at Cadbury's, said: "She looked really gorgeous and just as good as she did all those years ago. I fancied her!"

A classic design with train and pointed cuffs, the dress was made complete by the Nottingham lace which Joan said was essential as she took on her new surname.

The couple's two children are Mark, aged 46, and Karen, 44.

After reaching their landmark 50th year, Joan said the secret of their success was "just love and trust".

She added: "Ted always compliments me on the way I look."