I also have been researching since the 1980's (we moved nearer London so it was easier to research at the old records office near the Alwych). I discovered that my gt grandmother had a child die on Christmas Eve when he was 6 years old and her daughter also had a child die at 6, but no-one knew about the first child, even my mother knew nothing - no-one said a word.
Now I find that my parents married twice!! Dad (90) said to me the other day, I am amazed you never found out in your research that Mum & I married twice (Mum couldn't remember!). Apparently Dad got a marriage licence in May of 1945 and were to get married in June, but my grandfather (Mum's Dad) dropped dead of a heart attack at the end of May so the wedding couldn't take place. Whilst out in Liverpool one day while Dad was on leave before going back to Belgium, they got two witnesses off the street and got married never telling anyone. Their next wedding was the 'official' one on October 6th of the same year, but it would never occur to me to look for another one and if I saw it I would think it was a mistake. Honest;y, the things your parents never tell you!!!