All You Need Is Love!

A woman from Gloucester has finally married a man who she first met more than 40 years ago – when he was homeless and rooting in bins for scraps of food!

Joan Neininger first met Ken Selway in 1975, when he was sleeping rough. But she thought he was different, dressed neatly in a grey belted gabardine mac and drinking only milk. At the time, however, she was a married mother but she realised Ken could be one of the many ordinary people who had fallen on hard times.

“When I saw him ferreting through the bins outside a fish and chip shop near my bookshop in Gloucester,” said Joan, “I never thought for a minute it would end like this. But, although he was living on the streets, I knew straight away that Ken was lovely man with a beautiful soul.”

With the blessing of her husband Norman – to whom she was married for 30 years – she invited Ken in for a meal. But, for a long time he refused all offers of help and money, telling her: ‘You’ll get into trouble’. Eventually, her father convinced Ken it was the whole family who were worried about him.

But, according to the Daily Mail website, even though they had formed a long-lasting friendship, it was only last year, when the pair moved into the same care home, that they decided to get married.

The happy couple, both 89, finally got married on Saturday in front of family and friends. Joan said at the wedding: “It is lovely for everyone to have come today and everyone has made such a fuss of us”

The wedding took place at the Cinderford registry office, where Joan carried a traditional bouquet and was accompanied by bridesmaids. After tying the knot, the happy couple returned to Hanover Court residential home – where they both live – for the reception.

Rowena Hindle, regional manager for Hanover Housing, said: “The wedding was beautiful. Joan and Ken were both nervous but full of humour and giggles. This really shows a positive side of people growing older and being in a residential setting with extra care and still being able to make these important decisions and do what they want to do.”

Estate manager, Helen Lee, added: “The wedding has been absolutely fabulous. Lovely that Ken and Joan are finally married after all this time.

They are really pleased to have had such a good day with their family here with them.”