Elderly Man, 85, Marries His 91-Year-Old Sweetheart At Care Home After Dating For 26 Years

In news that will warm your heart, an elderly couple are thought to be the UK's oldest newlyweds after tying the knot at a care home.

Peter Smirles, 85, has been dating his 91-year-old sweetheart Jean Robson for 26 years, but found their upcoming wedding was being continuously postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

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With Peter's health starting to decline over Christmas, the pair decided to exchange vows at The Cedars care home in Purton, Wiltshire after a licence was granted by the county's superintendent registrar.

Amy Thorne, manager of The Cedars, contacted Wiltshire's superintendent registrar Sarah Bradley who secured a special license for the wedding to take place within the home.

SWNS)

The care home then worked with Jean and her daughters Alison Buckland and Susan Wyths to ensure a ceremony to remember and COVID-safe wedding took place.

On Tuesday, February 23, the blushing bride walked up the aisle and said 'I do'. The marriage was witnessed by Alison and Susan.

SWNS)

Peter's daughter and granddaughter also joined on Skype from their home in Norway.

Speaking about his new wife, Peter said adoringly: "What can I say but I love her?"

Jean added: "It was lovely that so many people put in so much effort to make sure this could happen.

"We have been planning this for so long but it seemed it might never happen.

"Peter actually first proposed to me about 25 years ago but I said 'why rush' and then it never seemed to happen.

"Amy and her team have been so good to make this happen, and The Cedars looked lovely today."

Both Peter and Jean have lived in Purton for a long time and are well known through Jean's job as a teacher and Peter's as a dental surgeon.

SWNS)

Care home manager Amy Thorne says they were even able to get Peter's bubble together and have a stag do in the home the night before.

Amy said: "I only started as manager here at The Cedars in January and this was about the first thing I was asked to do and we have been delighted to make sure it goes ahead.

SWNS)

"We managed to get Peter's bubble together and have a beer or two for a stag do the night before as well.

"The organisation of the wedding has been challenging but we worked through the risk assessments and with our infection control experts to make sure that it was as safe as it could be."

All visitors to the home had to take a lateral flow test and wear full personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times.

Topics: Weddings, Life News, Life, Coronavirus, Real Life, Covid-19

Kimberley Bond

Kim is a journalist at Tyla, and has previously worked at the Evening Standard, Radio Times as well as several national newspapers. A showbiz obsessive and a television fanatic, Kim is particularly interested in celebrity gossip, A-list events and the latest releases on either the big or small screen. Contact her at [email protected]

@0xKimberley