Couple marry 50 years after getting engaged

John Searle and Maggie Crook have married half a century after splitting up as teenagers. Mrs Searle was 13 when she first set eyes on John way back in 1952 in their hometown of Exmouth, Devon.

The teenagers met at a life-saving club held at the popular seaside resort's long-closed seafront swimming pool. They got engaged at 18 but spilt up before they could name the day after their careers caused them to drift apart.

The couple, both 69, married on Wednesday more than five decades after vowing to walk down the aisle. Mr Searle, a former Royal Marine, said: "Being married to Maggie is going to be very nice. We are very happy together. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with my first true love."



His new wife said: "It's all been very easy. We knew each other's family from before. It's one of those nice relationships. It's all been very simple and straightforward."

They sadly parted as teenagers when Mrs Searle went to Canada to work as a nurse while Mr Searle carried out national service with the Royal Marines.

However, Mrs Searle never forgot her childhood sweetheart, who became a salesman and married twice before he was widowed four years ago. She never married.