Couple who were friends for 58 years marry in their 80s

A couple who were friends for 58 years have married after a romance later in life.

Terry Crowe, 84, and Kath Short, 86, met in their 20s and Mrs Short ended up marrying Mr Crowe’s best friend.

Mr Crowe, who used to drive HGVs, also married and both raised families. After their spouses’ deaths, they slowly became more than friends and celebrated their wedding at St Mary’s Church in Worsborough on Sunday.

Mr Crowe said: “I don’t think anybody at our age should be lonely. There is nothing wrong with having a partner. At any age, it’s nice to be wanted.”

As parents of young children, Mr Crowe, Mrs Short and their partners and family would all go on holiday together and remained friends for decades.

Mr Crowe said his new wife had a “heart of gold”.

“We are both set in our ways but we get around that.

“We sit and talk on a night-time and a lot of people don’t talk do they? We are happy together,” he added.

They began dating two and a half years ago, holidaying together.

Mr Crowe said of his marriage proposal: “I’m not getting down on my knee because it would take a while to get back up!”

They will spend their honeymoon in Lake Garda, Italy.

Their wedding took place in the church where Mr Crowe is a warden and was attended by the pair’s seven children, who have also known each other for decades.

Former nurse Mrs Crowe said following the death of her first husband she did not want to get married again, but said but time spent with Mr Crowe changed her feelings.

“I didn’t feel any different going down the aisle for the second time compared with the first time.

“I loved him, and I didn’t want to be without him,” she added.