2023-04-17 22:05:59
Albrighton, 79, and Esther, 78, met at nursing school in 1963 on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England. A love affair quickly developed between them. “I loved her so much,” says Albrighton, who was 19 at the time. “It was so much fun,” Esther says of their teenage romance, and it was only a few months before they decided to get married. Esther agreed to this, but her father did not agree, arguing that his daughter was 18 years old at the time.
At first, Esther thought of challenging her parents, and decided to meet Albrighton in Australia, to establish a new life together, as the Australian government was offering financial incentives to increase the country’s population, but on his 20th birthday in 1964, he received a sad letter from her telling him that she might not disobeying her parents’ wishes. Albrighton felt helpless, and he mightn’t do anything regarding it. Two years later, they both married another person and continued their new lives. Esther gave birth to two daughters from her husband, and Albrighton a son and two daughters from his wife. Although they never spoke following they parted, Esther kept a picture of Albrighton in her purse, and says she thought of him all this time.
However, she never expected to see him once more, but 52 years following she last saw him, Albrighton appeared out of nowhere outside her house while she was doing gardening. It was in 2015, and Albrighton – who separated from his wife in 1989 – was visiting His brother is on the Isle of Wight, regarding 120 miles from where he lives in Hertfordshire, England.
Esther says she saw a man approaching her, but she didn’t recognize her old love at first sight. “I was young and bright-faced when she last saw me,” says Albrighton, explaining that he had a white beard as he got older. Esther, who was still married and living with her husband at the time, says: “It’s been such a long time since we met, it was great to see him once more.”
Esther’s husband died in 2016, and the following year Albrighton visited the Isle of Wight once more for vacation, contacted Esther, and they began spending time together. “We gradually fell in love once more,” says Albrighton. After 60 years of their original engagement, they finally tied the knot on February 11 at the local registry office, followed by a 40-person reception at a hotel with their family and close friends, including 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. “She’s a beautiful bride,” says Albrighton, Esther still wearing the original engagement ring he bought her in 1963 and which she always hid in a jewelry box.
Esther says: “My husband spoils me a lot. He does all the cooking and tea making.” Sometimes they think regarding their past and wonder: What would have happened to them if Esther’s parents had not objected to their marriage all those years ago? Esther concludes, “It’s great to be together, to have our own home, so we’re happy together for the rest of our years.” And she gives advice to every married couple: “If you find someone you love, bite him.”
• After 60 years of being originally engaged, they finally tied the knot on February 11 at the local registry office, followed by a 40-person reception at a hotel with their families and close friends, including 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
• Fifty-two years following she last saw him, Albrighton appeared out of nowhere outside Esther’s house while she was gardening.
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