Two school friends who reunited through a chance encounter on Facebook fell in love after 52 years apart.
Kevin Milbourne and Margret Davis both attended what is now Sacred Heart High School in Crosby. While in school Kevin had asked one of his friends to see if Margret would go on a date with him.
Margret too shy to answer ignored the question. That was in 1970 and Kevin was 14 and heartbroken. That was until last year when Margret who lives in Bootle posted a photograph of herself on a local Crosby Facebook page.
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Kevin's sister Janet commented on the photograph and Margret asked if she was Kevin's sister. Margret then decided to get in touch with Kevin and he was given one more chance.
Speaking to the ECHO Margret said: "I think everyone remembers the first person who asks them on a date. I had never forgotten Kevin and I used to think about him and what he was doing." Kevin said: "We never really forgot each other, not really."
Life got in the way of the couple and Kevin moved to Australia in 1982 where he spent the next 40 years of his life. While Margret remained in Liverpool and had two children, her second husband sadly passed away nine years ago.
Kevin who is now 65 said: "Margret texted me and asked if I was free for a call. That was on January 5, 2021, and we have been video calling every single night or day since. We have clocked up 1,000 hours on the phone in over a year. From the first call, the conversation flowed and we did nothing but laugh."
Through late nights and early morning calls, love blossomed between the two from halfway across the world. They even had Christmas dinner together over FaceTime.
After a year of online dating, Kevin who has only returned to England three times in the last forty years decided to take the leap and move back home permanently to be with Margret. Their emotional reunion was captured on film by Margret's son.
Speaking on their reunion Margret, 66, said: "When I was waiting at the airport for Kevin I was so nervous I kept looking up at the board to check when his flight would arrive. When we finally met it was just wonderful."
After arriving back home and moving in with Margret, Kevin finally plucked up the courage to ask her on a date himself he said: "This time I made sure to ask myself and when I was back in England. She said yes. I needed an answer to the question from all those years ago."
After 52 years the pair finally had their first date in York where Kevin bought Margret an 'I love you' lollypop. Speaking about their relationship Kevin said: "It has been like a fairytale it has been absolutely fantastic. We fell in love only this time it was mutual."
The pair said that marriage could be on the cards in the future but for now they are taking it one day at a time.
