Once-Engaged Couple Reunited During Chance Encounter 62 Years Later
Eric Tweedsdale, 96, and Enid Bradshaw, 94, met in 1939 at a youth group gathering at Sydney’s Merrylands Leagues Club. It was love at first sight.
Within months, the pair fell madly in love and became engaged. But with the Second World War on the horizon, Eric joined the Navy.
He was away for almost four years, and over time, the distance became too great to continue their relationship. Soon, they decided to go their separate ways.
Eric and Enid went on to marry different partners and began families of their own. And for 62 years, their paths would never cross.
But in 2004, a youth group reunion in the place they first met would bring them back together.
Immediately, the two recognized one another. ‘We knew each other straight away even after 62 years,” Eric said.
“She was still a blonde — but a slightly different tone of blonde — and she still had those lovely big blue eyes.
“She was a beautiful girl,” he continued, “and I thought she looked even more beautiful at 80-odd years young.”
After the reunion, it seemed as if nothing else in the world mattered. “It was a complete surprise to see Eric after all those years of having no contact at all,” Enid said.
“We had a cup of coffee, chatted about the time that had passed and ended up missing our train,” she continued.
Soon, they decided to continue their friendship and make up for lost time.
Both of them had lost their spouses, and after several years of friendship, the timing seemed just right. They decided to begin their storybook romance once again.
They’ve since moved to a self-care senior living community, where they each live in separate units just steps away from one another.
“We decided to have our own units, with our own things, but spend lots of valuable time with one another, talking about our time apart and the times we had together when we were young,” said Eric.
“Ours is a most unusual story with a happy ending. We not only spend time reminiscing, but look forward to the days ahead with keen anticipation.”
And still going strong into their 90s, their love story is truly one straight out of a movie. “We both believe it was just meant to be,” Eric said.
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