It’s never too late for love, say Harry and Jess (From Evesham Journal)

It’s never too late for love, say Harry and Jess

10:30pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in News By Sarah Taylor

WHEN two residents at an Evesham care home decided to get involved in a new group the last thing on their minds was finding love.

But cupid had other ideas for 87-year-old Jess Fairs and fellow Yates Court resident Harry Kent, aged 92.

The pair met and after becoming secretary and chairman respectively, of a newly formed residents association, their love blossomed.

They took things slowly, holding hands for the first time during a five-day trip to Torquay. On their return Mr Kent told Ms Fairs he loved her and asked if they could be more than friends.

“We have fun together,” he said. “We are able to laugh all the time. It has given us a new lease of life.”

Shortly after declaring his love for her, however, Mr Kent left for a two- month trip to visit his son in New Zealand, leaving Ms Fairs to discover absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

“He told me to write him a love letter and so I did,” said the former teacher, who had been married for 63 years when her husband died in 2008.

"I think he has still got it. Neither of us anticipated ever falling in love again.”

Ms Fairs was worried that Mr Kent would stay in New Zealand or that his feelings for her would have changed while he was away.

On the day he came back, Ms Fairs said: “I just ran straight into his arms and he held me very tight. At some point in the next few minutes I said, ‘You will have to put me down Harry, my feet are not touching the floor’. It was very romantic.”

The couple have no plans to marry or share a flat. “We are so near to each other we can be with each other in two minutes,” says Ms Fairs.

“Everybody seems pleased for us and we are very happy, counting ourselves fortunate to be experiencing love again at this time of our lives.”