A model romance: Couple devote 20 years to building a miniature replica of the town where they first met
A romantic couple have kept their love alive by devoting the past 20 years to building a model village based on the town where they first met.
Childhood sweethearts Stanley and Christine Buck first set eyes on each other during a chance meeting at a crowded 1950’s coffee shop. The pair, who got married two years later after a whirlwind romance, decided to celebrate that special meeting by making an exact replica of the cafe.
But they didn’t stop there and have now spent nearly 30,000 hours building an entire 1950’s town, just like the neighbourhood in Greenford, London, where they met. The huge 20ft by 2ft wooden model features shops, houses and even a cinema with miniature billboards advertising films the couple watched on their first dates.
‘Originally I was into modelling trains, said Stanley, 75. ‘But after I retired Christine convinced me to start building dolls’ houses and we came up with the idea for the town.‘It’s a hobby which we both enjoy doing together as I make the buildings and Christine paints them and models all the figures.’
The devoted husband added: ‘I suppose you can say the entire town has been created out of love for my wife.’
The pair, who will be celebrating their golden wedding anniversary next year, met when Christine was just 17 and Stanley was 24.
‘I was sitting in the cafe and saw a very pretty young lady come in but there were five other lads all vying for her affections so I didn’t think I stood a chance,’ said Stanley. ‘I was very nervous but I just walked over to where she was sitting and told her where to meet me. I then walked away before she could say no. ‘So you can imagine my surprise when she turned up, and I suppose the rest is history.’
Every building has electricity and a removable front and roof, which reveals what is happening inside and there is even a dress shop named after Christine, 68. ‘The dress shop is in the biggest, fanciest building in the town so I had to dedicate that to my wife,’ said Stanley.
The 1:24-inch scale model is extremely detailed and features tiny toys in the toy shop, miniature cups in the cafe and billboards on the cinema, advertising Seven Brides For Seven Brothers.
(Source : Daily Mail)
