A COUPLE who have lived in E17 their whole lives have spoken of their delight at being chosen as the 'Faces of Walthamstow 2012'.

Roy and Maureen Shanks, aged 72 and 70, were among 400 residents who were photographed for the annual exhibition, which will be on show for the next 12 months at Walthamstow's Selborne Walk Mall.

The couple, of Fairview Close, said they were "very chuffed" to be picked as representatives of the community.

"I'm proud to be from Walthamstow and I've been very happy here living with my family", Mrs Shanks said.

"I think the photographs have been a brilliant addition to Walthamstow, they reflect the area and all its multiculturalism."

The couple grew up just a few streets apart and first began courting as teenagers.

Maureen was born at Thorpe Coombe Hospital in Forest Road and lived in Erskine Road, while Roy was born at the family house in St Andrews Road, which he shared with 16 siblings.

During their courtship the pair went on dates to the former EMD Cinema in Hoe Street – or the Granada as it was known then – and the Carlton Cinema, which was later knocked down and eventually replaced by the Mall.

They married in 1961 at St John's Church in Chingford Road when they were aged 21 and 19.

"The building still hadn't been repaired from bomb damage of the Blitz, so I had to walk down and then up the aisle" recalls Mrs Shanks.

Before retiring Roy worked for dairy giant Unigate and Maureen was a legal secretary, while also finding time to raise two sons, who both now live in Chingford.

"Walthamstow has changed a great deal," said Mrs Shanks. "The High Street especially, which isn't as busy as it used to be.

"Many of the changes haven't been for the better but I'm happy to have lived here."

The Shanks have been awarded a framed copy of their photo and a £250 spending spree by the shopping centre for scooping the top prize.

The Mall's Craig Higgins said: "They were chosen because it was a very nice picture and we were touched by their story.

"We thought they really represented the community and our shoppers".

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