How we met: ‘We were walking around with huge grins. And they say older people can’t fall in love!’

When Alison’s husband died in 2010, she wrote to one in all his oldest pals to let him know. Though she had by no means met Michael she knew he had been a detailed good friend of her associate and, positive sufficient, he instantly wrote again. In addition to reminiscing about her husband, Alison and Michael – now 83 and 92 – opened up about their very own lives, too. “We shared our historical past and I realized that Mike performed the violin and flute,” says Alison. “At Christmas he informed me he was dancing around the kitchen to Bach with my letter in his fingers.”

“Alison’s letters have been one thing to look ahead to,” says Michael, who on the time was dwelling in Sheffield and caring for his spouse, who had dementia. “I used to be very busy and solely used to take two hours every week for myself. She was so good and we had quite a bit in widespread. We quickly found we had the identical values and politics.”

At the beginning of 2013, Michael’s spouse died. He and Alison continued to jot down to one another, and their friendship grew stronger. “He began sharing these pretty poems with me,” says Alison. “I was a instructor, so I knew they have been excellent.”

Months later, Alison invited him to her dwelling in Hull for dinner. “At first we have been reluctant to satisfy as a result of the letters have been so necessary to us,” says Alison. “It felt like a danger and we'd not like one another in individual.” She had coronary heart issues, and was afraid this may put him off. “I used to be taking treatment that had made me placed on weight. I wasn’t positive if he’d like me.”

They needn’t have anxious. As quickly as Michael arrived at her dwelling, there was a spark between them. “All of a sudden I knew he was taking a look at me in a romantic manner,” she says. “I used to be terribly nervous and chattered continuous.”

Regardless of the attraction, they took issues slowly to start out with. “I actually preferred her, however we’d each been by means of marriages and thought that might be the tip. I believe we have been a bit reluctant to confess there was one thing there,” he says.

Michael visited once more just a few weeks later, and earlier than lengthy they made the choice to start out a relationship.

A couple of months later, Alison’s well being started to get well. “My GP mentioned that Michael ought to work for the NHS,” she says with fun. “My coronary heart muscle tissues strengthened and I used to be discharged from cardiology. I attribute it to my happiness. We have been each so completely happy we'd stroll round with these large grins. Individuals assume older individuals can’t fall in love, however we undoubtedly can.”

‘Mike’s sister got here from Indiana. It was pretty’ … the couple have been married in a village close to Hull. Photograph: Handout

In 2014, Michael moved to be along with her in Hull; they married in a close-by village two years later. “We had 60 visitors and Mike’s sister even got here from Indiana. It was pretty,” says Alison.

In addition to having fun with crossword puzzles, they not too long ago purchased a recreation of desk tennis, which they love taking part in collectively. “We additionally belong to a Shakespeare group, the place we discuss in regards to the performs we’ve learn, and we exit strolling within the Peak District now that Alison’s well being issues are behind her,” says Michael. Between them they've 4 kids, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and revel in spending time with household.

Michael says life is “fantastic” with Alison round. “I believe it’s the similarities that we have now that retains the connection sturdy,” he says. “We each have the identical pursuits in music, literature and socialism. She makes me giggle and we’ve by no means fallen out about something. If something ever crops up we work round it.”

Alison loves her associate’s kindness. “He’s good for me. He’s very clever too. He does crosswords and sudoku whereas I'm studying Spanish. He helps me in every part I do,” she says. “We're nonetheless struck by the marvel of our romance. We put on listening to aids; I've obtained new knees and new hips. However we make up for our bodily difficulties with the thoughts and the center.”

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