Love is in the care
Home is where the heart is for couples making happy memories in autumn years
Dropping to one knee was not as easy as it had been. But for Geoff Fawcett, 90, it was worth it for the hand of Kathleen Wainwright, 85.
They got engaged in November and will today enjoy their first February 14 together.
And they are in good company. Geoff and Kathleen are one of nine couples celebrating Valentine’s Day at a care home that lays claims to being the most romantic in Britain, Anchor’s The Manor House in Harrogate, North Yorks.
And Kathleen has a message for all the younger lovebirds and lonely singletons out there today – never give up on love.
“I feel really lucky to have found someone at this stage in my life,” says the former music teacher.
“I never thought I’d get engaged at this age but sometimes things just feel right and it’s lovely to have someone by my side for all these adventures. You should never give up on finding someone for you.”
Geoff and Kathleen met last summer. Memories include Geoff introducing Kathleen to Chinese food for the first time, an outing to a panto and a canal boat cruise through Skipton, North Yorks.
Some of the Manor House couples have been together a bit longer. Ken and Laura Richards, 89 and 87, met in Slovenia and were married in Rome in 1962.
Ken says: “Laura and I have so many wonderful memories.
“I am so happy to spend another Valentine’s Day together.”
Travelling couple George and Janet Robinson, 85 and 81, have visited Russia, Thailand, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Dubai, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand together.
George says: “We work well together. We’re looking forward to spending another Valentine’s Day together.”
Other couples at the home include Peter and Jean Crowther, Bill and Maddy Shucksmith and John and Audrey Burgess.
Stephanie Foulds is manager of the home, part of the Anchor group. She says: “There are lifelong couples who enter our home and there are people who come in alone who form relationships.”
I never thought I’d get engaged at this age but sometimes it just feels right
KATHLEEN WAINRIGHT, 85