Jake and Mary Jacobs celebrated 70 years of marriage last year, a testament to their enduring love despite numerous challenges. In the 1940s, Mary, a white British woman, and Jake, a black man from Trinidad, fell in love amid societal and familial opposition. Mary’s father forbade their relationship, but they persisted.

They met during the war at a technical college, bonding over literature. Despite Mary’s father’s disapproval and Jake’s return to Trinidad, they sustained their love through letters. Jake eventually returned, proposed, and despite family objections, they wed in 1948 without familial support.

Their early years together were marked by discrimination; landlords refused to rent to them because Jake was black. Despite hardships and the loss of a child, they found strength in each other. Mary became an assistant principal, and Jake worked at the Post Office, slowly building a stable life.

Reflecting on their journey, Jake recalls, “When I arrived in the U.K., I was subjected to abuse every day.” Despite the relentless discrimination, their love endured, proving that love conquers all obstacles.