“I fancied her,” stated Albrighton, who was 19 on the time.
“It was fairly nice,” Steer stated of their teenage romance.
They dated for only some months earlier than Albrighton determined to suggest. Steer stated sure. Her mother and father, nonetheless, weren’t on board. They stated as a result of she was solely 18, their daughter was far too younger to be a bride.
At first, Steer thought of defying her mother and father, and was going to hitch Albrighton in Australia, the place they wished to maneuver and construct a life collectively, because the Australian authorities was providing financial incentives to extend the nation’s inhabitants. On his twentieth birthday, although, in 1964, he acquired a devastating letter from his old flame, calling off the entire plan.
“I used to be not very completely happy in any respect,” stated Steer, explaining that she felt she couldn’t disobey her mother and father’ needs.
Albrighton was distraught, too. He felt helpless.
“There was nothing I may do it about it,” Albrighton stated.
And so, the pair parted methods. Two years later, they each married different individuals and went on to have their very own households; Steer had two daughters, and Albrighton had a son and two daughters. Though they by no means spoke after the letter arrived, Steer saved {a photograph} of Albrighton — who moved again to England along with his spouse in 1968 — tucked away in her purse.
“I considered him through the years,” she stated.
Nonetheless, she by no means anticipated to see him once more. However 52 years after she final laid eyes on him, Albrighton confirmed up unannounced exterior her dwelling whereas she was gardening.
It was 2015, and Albrighton — who had gotten divorced in 1989 — was visiting his brother on the Isle of Wight, about 120 miles from the place he lived in Hertfordshire, England. He puzzled if anybody he knew from his youthful years nonetheless lived on the island.
“The primary particular person I used to be going to search for was Jeanette,” stated Albrighton, who discovered her on an ancestry web site and found her married identify.
He visited the native library and discovered the place Steer was residing. On a whim, he determined to be daring and cease by her dwelling. He couldn’t consider his luck when he noticed her standing exterior gardening as he pulled as much as her home.
Steer stated she appeared up from her backyard and noticed a person approaching. She didn’t acknowledge her long-ago love.
“I used to be a fresh-faced younger man when she final noticed me,” Albrighton stated, explaining that he grew a white beard as he acquired older.
“It was a very long time in the past,” stated Steer, who was nonetheless married and residing together with her husband on the time.
Albrighton launched himself.
“It was very good to see him and get in contact once more,” Steer stated.
Their alternate was pleasant and nice, they each stated. That yr, Albrighton despatched Steer and her husband a Christmas card, in addition to the yr after that. He additionally shared his contact info.
Steer’s husband died in 2016. The next yr, Albrighton visited the Isle of Wight once more for a trip, and reached out to Steer. They started spending a while collectively.
“We fell in love once more step by step, and the remainder is historical past now,” Albrighton stated.
“I used to be a bit apprehensive to start out with,” stated Steer. “After some time, I actually fell in love with him, and it was nice.”
In February of 2018, Steer moved to Stevenage to dwell with Albrighton, although she saved her dwelling on Isle of Wight, so they may go to steadily together with her household and have a spot to remain.
“After we’re out anyplace, we all the time maintain fingers. It’s beautiful,” stated Steer, who’s disabled. About 35 years in the past, she was sitting in a parked automobile when one other car crashed into it, leaving her with everlasting harm to her backbone, which makes it troublesome to stroll lengthy distances. Albrighton, she stated, helps take care of her well being.
“If he thinks I’m doing an excessive amount of, he makes me sit down and have a relaxation,” she stated.
5 years after they moved in collectively — and 60 years after they have been initially engaged — the couple lastly tied the knot on Feb. 11 on the native registry workplace, adopted by a 40-person reception at a lodge with their households and closest associates. Between them, the couple has 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
“She was a wonderful bride,” stated Albrighton, including that along with a brand new wedding ceremony band, Steer nonetheless wears the unique engagement ring he purchased her in 1963 — which she all the time saved hidden in a jewellery field. As newlyweds, “we inform one another we love one another in all probability about 20 instances a day.”
“I’m spoiled,” stated Steer. “He does all of the cooking and making the tea.”
Typically, they replicate on their previous — and marvel what may have been if Steer’s mother and father didn’t object to their union all these years in the past.
“It might have been good to be collectively, and have our circle of relatives between us,” Steer stated. “However we are able to’t return and begin once more, so we simply settle for as we are actually, and be completely happy collectively for the remainder of our years.”
Their story, the couple stated, has taught them to by no means surrender hope.
“If you discover love,” Albrighton stated, “maintain onto it.”
