'We just enjoy life together so much'

A couple who fell in love in their 80s after meeting at a social group for older people say they now "couldn't imagine being apart".

George Hoodless' wife Susan died in 2019 and Gladys Giles, 86, lost her husband Bert in 2020.

Despite growing up near one another on the outskirts of Hull, they met when Gladys sat in George's usual seat at an Age UK Hull and East Yorkshire social group.

George said: "I just fell in love with her. It's just one of those things. I don't know what happens, but you just do!"

Gladys said she was encouraged to attend one of the charity's social groups at the Club House Community Centre in Hull after her husband died.

She said: "When he sadly passed away, I just thought well, my life is over. I just felt ready to throw my cards in, to be honest."

George agreed: "If it hadn't have been for my daughter, I don't think I'd have been here. But they told me, Dad, you can't be like this. They said, 'there's a club just go try it'."

On Gladys's first visit to one of the social group's events, she unknowingly chose to sit in George's usual seat.

George said: "They told her 'oh no, you can't sit in that seat. That's George's seat.' So she was ready to go, and I walked in!"

After hitting it off and realising how much they had in common, George bought tickets to attend the theatre together - and they have been a couple since.

Gladys said: "I just think the world of him. I don't know what I'd do without him now.

"We just enjoy life together so much."

George added: "It's changed my life. This club has really changed my life."

The couple said they will be spending Valentine's Day together this year.

Lisa Hall, social group support worker at the charity, said: "Love in later life does happen. Long live love!"

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