Couple find each other by chance after 62 years apart
Former sweethearts who were separated by war and circumstance have reunited after meeting by chance 62 years later.
In 1939, Eric Tweedsdale, 96, and Enid Bradshaw, 94, first met at Merrylands RSL in Sydney, where they were both part of a youth group.
The duo’s love blossomed, and the pair got engaged but during the war, Eric was sent away for four years to the navy and things cooled off.
They each went their separate ways and went on to marry and have children.
In 2004, Eric and Enid both received invitations to a youth group reunion by mutual friends held in the location where their love story first began, Merrylands RSL.
“There were six of us left from the youth group and our friends organised for Enid to wait at the big clock at Central Station for someone to meet her to get the train into Merrylands RSL and I offered as I was travelling by train [from the Central Coast],” Eric told The Daily Telegraph.
“We knew each other straight away even after 62 years. She was still a blonde — but a slightly different tone of blonde — and she still had those lovely big blue eyes.
“She was a beautiful girl and I thought she looked even more beautiful at 80-odd years young.”
“It was a complete surprise to see Eric after all those years of having no contact at all,” Enid said.
“We had a cup of coffee, chatted about the time that had passed and ended up missing our train.
“While we stayed in touch following the reunion, it was a few years down the track before we became close once again.”
After years of staying in touch, their romance resurfaced when Enid moved to Cooinda Village retirement facility, not far from Eric’s home in Ettalong on the Central Coast of NSW.
Image credit: Mark Scott
Now, Eric and Enid are making amends for all their lost time and living only 40 footsteps from one another in self-care units at Peninsula Village in Umina.
“We are very thankful that they accommodated us here at the village so close to each other,” Enid said.
“We’ve been here for just over six months and enjoy the fantastic activities and social side of being in a residential village, close to family and friends."
Enid added, “We decided to have our own units, with our own things, but spend lots of valuable time with one another, talking about our time apart and the times we had together when we were young.
“Ours is a most unusual story with a happy ending. We not only spend time reminiscing, but look forward to the days ahead with keen anticipation.”
Eric concluded, “We both believe it was just meant to be."
Eric enjoyed a successful sports career, now being the oldest living Australian Wallabies rugby union player.
Enid established for herself a career as a published author and an award-winning artist.