Alan & Barbara married in 1937. Alan worked for the Woolwich Building Society and joined the Territorial Army because he was conviced that war was coming and "didn't want to end up in the Infantry". He ended up as a Company Sergeant Major in the Royal Army Service Corps and was stationed in North Africa. However, when he was stationed in Coventry he had an affair with a married woman (whom he later married - see below).

Alan & Barbara separated but there was an attempt at reconcilation - resulting in another child - but following pressure from family they remained separated. They divorced in 1960 and both remarried.