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Childhood soulmates marry 75 years after they first met

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Childhood sweethearts, Irene and George, have reunited after 75 years apart [Photo: Caters]

Look no further, as we have just the midweek pick-me-up you’ve been hoping for.

In a story that wouldn’t look out of place in a fairy tale, childhood sweethearts George Coffin and Irene Lanning, both 89, have finally married 75 years after they first met.

The newlyweds first became friends aged 14 in the midst of World War II and despite falling for each other, eventually drifted apart over the years. And the West Midlands-based couple eventually moved on with different partners.

But a recent funeral of a mutual friend enabled the former couple to reunite and they soon rekindled their romance.

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The couple first met aged 14 in the midst of World War II [Photo: Carters]

And not wanting to waste any more time apart, George asked Irene to marry him within the space of just six months.

The grandfather-of-eight admitted: “We are very happy to have found each other again. It’s lovely to have Irene here with me. We can look after each other, and we have so much to catch up on. It’s been a rollercoaster ride, and I asked her to marry me very quickly. But at our age, you can’t afford to hang around.”

And Irene was of course, thrilled.

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The couple wed just six months after reuniting [Photo: Carters]

“He’s still as handsome as he ever was, and we get on like a house on fire. His hair might be white now, but he has the same smile and sense of humour that I loved when we were younger,” she said. “I never thought we would end up getting married. It’s a fairy tale really. It’s ironic that we rekindled the magic after a friend’s funeral but these sorts of stories often happen in funny ways.”

The grandmother of four first started dating George back in 1942 and the couple spent their youth cycling together and spending time in the former engineer’s yard, where Irene would knit.

Thnk you Irene and George, for reaffirming our beliefs that true love does exist.


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