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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Happy ending for love letter pair | Happy ending for love letter pair |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A Devon man has married an old flame after a love letter he wrote 10 years ago which went astray was discovered behind a fireplace by workmen in Spain. | |
| Steve Smith, of Paignton, met Spaniard Carmen Ruiz-Perez 17 years ago when she was an exchange student in Devon. | Steve Smith, of Paignton, met Spaniard Carmen Ruiz-Perez 17 years ago when she was an exchange student in Devon. |
| The pair had been engaged but their relationship fizzled out after Ms Ruiz-Perez went to live in Paris. | The pair had been engaged but their relationship fizzled out after Ms Ruiz-Perez went to live in Paris. |
| Mr Smith sent her a letter via her mother's home in Spain but never heard back until she read it a decade later. | Mr Smith sent her a letter via her mother's home in Spain but never heard back until she read it a decade later. |
| Ms Ruiz-Perez, who had never married, rang her former boyfriend and they met in Paris a few days later. | |
| Like a storyline straight from Hollywood, the pair, now both aged 42, fell in love all over again and tied the knot in Brixham on Friday. | Like a storyline straight from Hollywood, the pair, now both aged 42, fell in love all over again and tied the knot in Brixham on Friday. |
| Mr Smith, a factory supervisor, said: ''When we met again it was like a film. We ran across the airport into each other's arms. | Mr Smith, a factory supervisor, said: ''When we met again it was like a film. We ran across the airport into each other's arms. |
| I never got married and now I've married the man I have always loved Carmen Smith | I never got married and now I've married the man I have always loved Carmen Smith |
| ''We met up and fell in love all over again. Within 30 seconds of setting eyes on each other we were kissing. | ''We met up and fell in love all over again. Within 30 seconds of setting eyes on each other we were kissing. |
| "I'm just glad the letter did eventually end up where it was supposed to be.'' | "I'm just glad the letter did eventually end up where it was supposed to be.'' |
| However, it seemed that cupid and fate worked hard to ensure it did as a catalogue of events could so easily have led to them never meeting again. | However, it seemed that cupid and fate worked hard to ensure it did as a catalogue of events could so easily have led to them never meeting again. |
| Mr Smith originally wrote to Ms Ruiz-Perez's flat in Paris but she had moved and his letter went unanswered. | Mr Smith originally wrote to Ms Ruiz-Perez's flat in Paris but she had moved and his letter went unanswered. |
| Still determined to trace his lost love, he wrote her another letter and sent it via her mother's villa in Spain. | Still determined to trace his lost love, he wrote her another letter and sent it via her mother's villa in Spain. |
| The letter lay hidden for a decade after slipping behind a fireplace | The letter lay hidden for a decade after slipping behind a fireplace |
| The letter was put on the mantelpiece and forgotten about before it slipped down the back of the fireplace. | |
| It was only when workmen carrying out renovations on the villa removed the fireplace that they discovered the letter and passed it on. | It was only when workmen carrying out renovations on the villa removed the fireplace that they discovered the letter and passed it on. |
| However, it was 10 years old and Mr Smith had moved house - but fortunately he had kept his old phone number. | However, it was 10 years old and Mr Smith had moved house - but fortunately he had kept his old phone number. |
| Ms Ruiz-Perez, who has now become Mrs Smith, described the wedding as the pinnacle of an ''amazing'' love story. | Ms Ruiz-Perez, who has now become Mrs Smith, described the wedding as the pinnacle of an ''amazing'' love story. |
| "I never got married and now I've married the man I have always loved," she said. | "I never got married and now I've married the man I have always loved," she said. |
| ''When I got the letter I didn't phone Steve right away because I was so nervous. I nearly didn't phone him at all. | ''When I got the letter I didn't phone Steve right away because I was so nervous. I nearly didn't phone him at all. |
| ''I kept picking up the phone then putting it down again but I knew I had to make the call.'' | ''I kept picking up the phone then putting it down again but I knew I had to make the call.'' |