Lionel Musgrave, Leo to friends, only child to Stanley and Nellie from Coundon was born in Newcastle on Sunday 28th February 1936, although his mother once told Mavis he was actually born on the 29th making Lionel a mere 21 years old and as many who know him would appreciate this with his sweet personality and suave handsome good looks once referred to as “Omar Sharif”.
When he was 15/16 years old he worked for British Rail at Shildon, like his father. Then at the age of 18, in 1954, completed two years National Service in the Armed Forces with the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry based in Osnabrück Germany. Afterwards he briefly returned to British Rail in Shildon.
Mavis, née Christlow, one of two girls born to Frederick and Margaret Jane, was born in Spennymoor on Sunday 9th October 1938. After leaving school Mavis did a number of part-time jobs to pay to attend evening college to gain further secretarial qualifications.
They both worked at Smart & Browns Electricals, Merrington Lane, Spennymoor in the late 1950’s where Lionel’s mother worked, also Mavis’ sister and future brother-in-law. Often, when Mavis left her office to walk along the factory, there was this good looking lad with lashings of black wavy hair, wearing a red tartan shirt and a beaming smile who would jump in front of her making sure she noticed him!
They started to date, going to dances at The Rink in Spennymoor, the cinema and taking rides on Lionel’s beloved Lambretta. They married on Saturday 5th March 1960 in Spennymoor and their Reception was at The Coatham Hotel where Lionel introduced Mavis to coffee for the very first time. Lionel rented a flat in Redcar, starting a new job at I.C.I. Willington, Mavis shortly followed where they bought a bungalow. They have two daughters Jacqui and Mandy. Mavis worked as Manageress of a Drycleaners, the original building still standing. They moved house a couple of times then moved back to Newton Aycliffe in 1965, Lionel travelled by car back and forth to Willington for several years.
In the 70’s Lionel got work in Newton Aycliffe, then at Cummins Engineering in Darlington until he retired. Mavis worked for Toothills (friend to Heather, the late Mary, the late Edna and Pam), Ozalids and Alcan Metal then in the late 1970’s Aycliffe Development Corporation which later became Sedgefield District Council relocating her back to her hometown of Spennymoor, she worked there for several years until she retired.
Lionel and Mavis also have three beautiful granddaughters.
Happy 60th Wedding Anniversary Mam & Dad
Love from Jacqui, Iain, Rebecca, Charlotte and Isabel, Mandy & Brian xxx
