Jake and Mary Jacobs celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last year, highlighting their enduring love amidst numerous challenges. In 1940s Britain, Mary, a white woman, fell for Jake, a black man from Trinidad. Despite Mary’s father warning her that marrying Jake would lead to exclusion from her family, they stayed devoted.

They met during the war at a technical college, bonding over shared interests. Mary’s father forbade her from seeing Jake, but their relationship continued through letters while Jake was in Trinidad. Upon his return to the UK, Jake proposed, and despite the lack of family support, they married in 1948.

Their early years were marked by severe discrimination. “When I arrived in the U.K., I was subjected to abuse every day,” Jake recalls. They struggled with housing discrimination and financial hardships. Tragically, Mary had a stillborn child, but their mutual support helped them persevere. Mary became an assistant principal and Jake worked at the Post Office.

Now settled in Solihull, Jake and Mary reflect on their journey with no regrets. “The discrimination was relentless,” Jake remembers, but their love triumphed over all obstacles.