Waltzing their way to 50 years
Back in the summer of 1957, renowned ballroom dancers Brian Costley and Margaret Owen became the first couple to tie the knot at Wolverhampton's East Park Methodist Church. Back in the summer of 1957, renowned ballroom dancers Brian Costley and Margaret Owen became the first couple to tie the knot at Wolverhampton's East Park Methodist Church. Fifty years on and veteran dance teacher Brian, now 71, and his wife Margaret, 73, are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. The pair met and shared the first of many waltzes on the night of Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953 at Wyn Boydern's Dance School in School Street, and their love affair flourished on the dance floor of the Civic Hall. An extract from the Express & Star at the time read: "Mr Costley and Miss Owen are both keen dancers and have been regular partners for some years. Only natural they should soon be embarking on a partnership for life." Brian, who runs Wolverhampton-based BM&A Costley Dance School, said: "When we started dancing together we found the chemistry to be completely different to our other partners. It still took me a year to pluck up the courage to ask her out." Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Fifty years on and veteran dance teacher Brian, now 71, and his wife Margaret, 73, are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.
The pair met and shared the first of many waltzes on the night of Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953 at Wyn Boydern's Dance School in School Street, and their love affair flourished on the dance floor of the Civic Hall.
An extract from the Express & Star at the time read: "Mr Costley and Miss Owen are both keen dancers and have been regular partners for some years. Only natural they should soon be embarking on a partnership for life."
Brian, who runs Wolverhampton-based BM&A Costley Dance School, said: "When we started dancing together we found the chemistry to be completely different to our other partners. It still took me a year to pluck up the courage to ask her out."
After a four-year courtship, Brian and Margaret married on August 17, 1957. The wedding was covered in the Express & Star, which reported: "Plans were nearly frustrated when it was discovered no-one can be married in a Methodist church until it has been open for 12 months."
Fortunately, Willenhall Road Methodist Church was closing down to make way for the new site so they took out a marriage licence there.
"There was definitely some panic over that," Brian said. "We were both very crestfallen but luckily my dad sorted it out. We renewed our vows there to mark our 40th anniversary back in 1997."
The Costleys, of Goldthorn Hill, have three children – Martin, Angela and Peter – and six grand-daughters. They will be celebrating tonight with a party at the Polish Club on Stafford Road, where Brian hosts weekly ballroom dances.
