Lovestruck pair become oldest ever to marry

An Irishwoman and her 96-year-old fiancé will became the world's oldest to marry when they tied the knot today.

Raymond Robson, aged 96, proposed to Faye Webber, aged 90, several months ago after a whirlwind romance at The Grange residential home in Goring, Berkshire.

The couple clicked straight away when Raymond moved in last summer and love blossomed as he began reading the newspaper aloud to short-sighted Faye.

He popped the question out of the blue one day and "elated" Faye, who is originally from Ireland, agreed - even though he was not able to get down on one knee.

The widowed Quakers wed at a religious ceremony in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, this morning in front friends and family, including the six sons and daughters and 16 grandchildren and great-grandchildren they have between them.

After walking down the aisle together they enjoyed a marquee reception with 120 guests in the garden of The Grange, a 42-resident private home where they will now share a room.

Before they settle into married life, the newlyweds are due to take a short honeymoon in a local hotel.

The Grange's manageress, Sue Lewis, said this is the first residential home wedding she has heard of in her 20 years' experience.

"They clicked straight away," she said. "It's just a token of their affection, sealing the bond. "All the staff are really happy. It's lovely to see that you can find passion as you get older."

According to the Guinness Book of World Records the oldest couple to wed were Francois Frenandez and Madeleine Francineau who exchanged vows at Le Foyer du Romarin rest home in Clapiers, France, in February 2002, aged 96 and 94 respectively - a total of 190 years.