DID you meet an American airman based in Oxfordshire, fall in love and live happily ever after?

That was the question the New Theatre, Oxford, posed as it prepared to stage the musical, Save the Last Dance for Me.

The families of four couples contacted Diana Hackett, the theatre’s press officer, after her appeal appeared in Memory Lane. Here are their stories.

Lynne and Miles

LYNNE Griffiths and Miles Smith met in July 1975. Lynne, who was working as secretary to the New Theatre manager, went with her parents to a dance at the United States’ Air Force base at Upper Heyford.

It was there that Lynne met Miles, an American military policeman at the base, and it was love at first sight for both of them. They married in November 1975 and had three children.

Since marrying, they have spent many years living in America and England as Miles continued his Air Force career in different places. Their children were all born in England, but it was America they fell in love with.

Miles has now retired, and they have settled in Florida, where they have lived for 12 years. They are also proud grandparents of one.

Lynne’s sister, Terry Richardson, says: “My family and I visit as much as we can and my mother is going over later this year for her 80th birthday. It is so lovely to see my sister and her husband very happy and still so much in love.”

The strong family ties were demonstrated in 1986 when Lynne’s father, Jim Griffiths, the former Oxford Mail chief photographer, opened his front door in Flexney Place, Oxford, to a group of carol singers.

There in front of him were three grandchildren, who had flown 8,000 miles from America to give him and his wife Maureen the Christmas surprise of their lives. They had not seen their daughter Lynne and her family for two years. The secret operation had been planned over five months by family members in the US and the UK.

Dorothy and Otto

DOROTHY Davies met Otto Ferguson at the Bell public house at Lower Heyford.

Dorothy, who lived in the village, recalls: “I had been to London with a friend and went into the pub on the way home from Heyford railway station because it was snowing. It was the first time I had been in the pub.”

It was love at first sight in the bar when she set eyes on Otto, an American serving with the United States Air Force at Upper Heyford.

They were married at Lower Heyford Church on May 26, 1962.

They now live in Hampton, Virginia, and have seven children, 16 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. The couple, who are currently staying with Dorothy’s brother and sister-in-law, Ted and Sue Davies, in the long-term family home at Heyford, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last year.

Pamela and Bert PAMELA Emily Goodgame, also known as Bet/Betty, lived in Hollow Way, Cowley. Bert McAlister was a United States’ airman from Texas, based at Greenham Common in Berkshire. They met in the early 1950s and were married at St James’s Church, Cowley.

They moved to Texas shortly afterwards, and their daughter Rethe was born. However, Pamela found it too hot and dry compared with England and the family returned to Cowley, where Rethe was christened in St James’s Church.

Sadly, Pamela died in 1957, aged only 28, due to an undiagnosed heart condition. Rethe, who was only three at the time, recalls: “My dad and I returned to Texas for 18 months or so, but dad then decided to bring me back to Oxford to be raised by my English grandmother.

“Dad remained with me in England until he died in 2001, marrying for the second time when I was about 16 to another English lady.”

Rethe, now Rethe Hurn, would be pleased to hear from anyone who knew her parents. Email mary54mc@hotmail.co.uk or write to 39 Druce Way, Oxford OX4 6TJ.

Patricia and Ralph

PATRICIA Norton and Ralph Schnelting met in 1952. Patricia was 16, living in Fernhill Road, Cowley, and working at Nuffield Press. Ralph, from St Louis, was 21 and serving in the US Air Force at Upper Heyford. He had been in the area only three days when he met his future wife at a dance at Heyford.

Patricia’s parents thought she had gone to a friend’s 21st birthday party and were angry when they found out she was at the dance. They thought she was too young for Ralph. But her sister Fay convinced them to give Ralph a chance – and the romance blossomed.

Patricia and Ralph were married in 1954 at the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Crescent Road, Cowley, and have never looked back. Early next year, they will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.

Three years after their wedding, they moved to California and later St Louis, but returned to England in 1959 when Ralph left the Air Force. He worked at Smith’s Industries at Witney and Pressed Steel at Cowley before returning to civilian roles at Upper Heyford.

The couple, who now live in Bramble Bank, Witney, and have six children, 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild, will always remember the music of their first dance – Sentimental Journey.