A couple with a combined age of 167 are set to become Britain’s oldest newlyweds after a whirlwind romance.
Frank Bird, 88, and Muriel Kodritsch, 79, will tie the knot later this month. They met nine months ago.
Muriel, widowed in 2014, said: “It was all so rapid I just can’t believe it’.
“I’d settled for being on my own for the rest of my life and Frank has also been very lonely.”
Her fiance added: “I feel very fortunate finding love for a second time.”
The retired oil executive, widowed two years ago, met Muriel at All Saints’ Church in Nynehead, Somerset, in November.
Frank told how he first saw the former carer talking to friends there.
Three weeks later he sat with her at a Sunday service and Muriel later invited him to meet her sister. The pair then enjoyed a short holiday.
Frank said: “Everything changed when we found each other. One problem with old age is loneliness but we bridged over the loneliness by being together.
“I hadn’t imagined getting married again and it was the same for Muriel.
“But one day we were watching Pride and Prejudice on TV.
“Our armÂÂchairs were close together. It made it easy for me to get down on one knee. We didn’t want a long engagement because of our age.”
The pair will wed at All Saints’ on August 25 with dozens of guests expected.
Muriel will be given away by her son Kevin, 52, and Frank’s son Steven, 64, will be best man.
The couple will spend their honeymoon on the south coast before a romantic getaway to the Lake District.
