An Eamont Bridge couple have celebrated a sparkling 60 years of marriage.
Fred Fearnley, 82, and his wife Brenda, aged 79, looked back on 60 happy years together raising a family, travelling the world and working a variety of jobs from the SAS to running a pub at Shap.
The pair met at a dance in an army barracks in London where Fred was stationed with the Coldstream Guards in the late 1950s.
Brenda, then only 17, went with a friend who swiftly left her alone by the dancefloor.
Looking on, Fred’s friends bet him 10 shillings that he couldn’t get a dance with Brenda. He won the bet and her heart, and hasn’t looked back since.
“What I remember most were his big blue eyes,” said Brenda.
After a period of courting, Fred was told he was shipping out for more than six months so he decided to ask for Brenda’s hand and she said yes.
With just over a week’s notice, it would have been impossible to find a wedding venue and invite everyone in time. Luckily, Fred’s sister already had a wedding date set and so the family had a double wedding.
It was a whirlwind week getting everything ready for the big day and the couple were married at Chatham, Kent, at the ages of 19 and 22.
“I was quite terrified if I’m honest,” joked Brenda. “But it all went smoothly in the end.”
The dresses for the bride and the bridesmaids were all made by Fred’s mother and as Brenda lost her father at a young age, her father-in-law walked her and Fred’s sister down the aisle together in a lovely gesture foreshadowing the longevity of their relationship.
While Brenda’s in-laws were fully on board, her own mother said the marriage would not last because Fred was a dedicated soldier and would spend his career away from home.
Although wrong about the marriage, Brenda’s mother was right about Fred’s job.
He joined the SAS in 1962 and moved the family to Hereford.
His career took him from parachuting into jungles to trekking across deserts and he was involved at the highest level of the special forces unit — even acting as the group’s representative at the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s 25th wedding anniversary at St James’s Palace.
This left Brenda juggling her work caring for older people with raising three girls, Paula, Jackie and Angela. She said it was often quite hair-raising thinking what Fred might be up to at any given time.
Angela said: “She was always so hardworking. Such an inspiration growing up when she used to take me along with her to work.”
Due to her mother’s influence Angela went on to be a nurse.
After Fred retired from the SAS in 1984, the Fearnleys moved to Eden and Fred set up an outdoor pursuits company in Morland.
He taught people to survive on the fells through skills like map reading and first aid.
After 40 years of marriage the pair even renewed their vows at St Lawrence Church in Morland.
“We just love the area,” added Brenda. “The lakes are so beautiful and the people are some of the nicest in the world.”
This kindness from the people of Eden was showcased when after moving from Morland the couple became proprietors of the Crown Inn, Shap, and in their first fortnight living there the pub flooded.
Brenda was phoned by a caring local who informed her about the flooding, although by the time Brenda received the call she was already up to her knees in water.
The whole community then looked after them with food and teas before the fire service pumped out the water and electricity returned.
“It was a wonderful pub,” added Brenda.
She said they were kept very busy with Coast to Coast walkers, K Shoes workers, bank tellers, and bowling club members who would all pop in through the day for lunches and coffees.
The couple then retired to Torrevieja in Spain where they lived for 28 years, only returning to Eden a couple of years ago.
It was a small community and the pair had many a happy year there playing bowls in the sun. It was also during this period that they both travelled extensively.
From cruises to safaris, they visited a range of countries including Canada and Australia. This was partly due to them being avid rugby followers and the pair could often be found watching England away in Paris or Cape Town.
Although a large celebration is not possible under current COVID restrictions, Brenda and Fred are hoping to have a big party in the summer with their three children, eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
When asked about the secret to a long and prosperous marriage the pair replied: “Tolerance and talking things through when you don’t agree — talk, talk, talk it out.”
Angela added: “I’m just so proud of everything they’ve both achieved. Such full and happy lives together with so many stories to tell. I think it’s finally time for them to settle down and let the grass grow.”
Their favourite song together is (Everything I Do) I Do It for You by Bryan Adams and this week Angela caught the couple cuddling to the tune.
