Couple find each other by chance after 62 years apart

HE’S 96 and she’s 93 but that hasn’t stopped love blossoming again after Eric Tweedsdale and Enid Bradshaw were separated by war and circumstances more than 60 years ago.

Eric Tweedale and Enid Bradshaw were young sweethearts until separated by the war. Picture: Mark Scott

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FORMER sweethearts separated by war and circumstances have rekindled their romance after meeting again by chance after 62 years.

Eric Tweedale, 96, of Ettalong and Enid Bradshaw, 94, of Umina Beach, met in 1939 at Merrylands RSL in Sydney, where they were both part of a youth group.

The young couple’s relationship flourished for a time and they got engaged, but things cooled over the war years when Mr Tweedale was away in the navy for almost four years.

Both went on to marry and have children with new partners.

Mr Tweedale and Mrs Bradshaw as a young couple in the 1940s.

In 2004 fate intervened when the pair were invited to a youth group reunion by mutual friends which was to be held back at the place their love affair 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],” Mr Tweedale said

“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.”

Mrs Bradshaw and Mr Tweedale were separated when Eric joined the Navy during WWII.

“It was a complete surprise to see Eric after all those years of having no contact at all,” Mrs Bradshaw said

We had a cup of coffee, chatted about the time that had passed and ended up missing our train,” Mrs Bradshaw said.

“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 friendship, Mr Tweedale and Mrs Bradshaw found themselves living alone and Enid decided to move to Cooinda Village retirement facility in Umina Beach, not far from Eric’s home in Ettalong.

The romance soon resurfaced.

Romance has rekindled for the couple who live at Peninsula Retirement Village. Picture: Mark Scott

Now it’s 2018 and Eric and Enid are finishing each other’s sentences, living life to the fullest in their 90s and residing about 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,” Mrs Bradshaw 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.”

The couple in their younger days.

“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.

“We both believe it was just meant to be,” Mr Tweedale said.

Mr Tweedale and Mrs Bradshaw at Peninsula Village.

Eric Tweedale — now the oldest living Australian Wallabies rugby union player — enjoyed a successful career in sport.

He played rugby for Parramatta before being selected for the 1946 Wallabies New Zealand tour, the first international tour following the war.

Mr Tweedale, a front row forward, went on to play for Australia until 1949, travelling to Britain, France and Canada throughout his career.

Over the years Mrs Bradshaw moved regularly throughout New South Wales with her family, but found a passion for the creative arts, becoming an award-winning artist and published author.

She became recognised in the 80s for her craftsmanship including art, sculpting, dress making, home designing and painting.

Mrs Bradshaw’s most recognisable book, Dolls’ Houses, was published in 1986 and is still available.