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| Coventry couple recall how random text ended in happily ever after | |
| (17 days later) | |
| Kirsty and Donovan were brought together by one random, apparently made-up phone number | Kirsty and Donovan were brought together by one random, apparently made-up phone number |
| When Donovan Shears sent a text message to a random number in 1998, it changed the course of his life. | When Donovan Shears sent a text message to a random number in 1998, it changed the course of his life. |
| He had been given his first mobile phone for his 18th birthday and had just discovered text messaging. | He had been given his first mobile phone for his 18th birthday and had just discovered text messaging. |
| He made up a random number and sent off a message saying "hello", to which his future wife Kirsty wrote back "hi". | He made up a random number and sent off a message saying "hello", to which his future wife Kirsty wrote back "hi". |
| "That single moment led to over 20 years of love, laughter, and partnership," they said. | "That single moment led to over 20 years of love, laughter, and partnership," they said. |
| Out of several messages to unknown numbers he sent from the Coventry pub where he was working that night, Kirsty in Cleethorpes was the only one to reply. | Out of several messages to unknown numbers he sent from the Coventry pub where he was working that night, Kirsty in Cleethorpes was the only one to reply. |
| Fast forward four years, and the couple were getting married in Scotland, where Kirsty is from. They now also have two children, aged six and nine. | Fast forward four years, and the couple were getting married in Scotland, where Kirsty is from. They now also have two children, aged six and nine. |
| We still do: Kirsty and Donovan Shears | We still do: Kirsty and Donovan Shears |
| Kirsty said she replied to Donovan's message thinking it was someone she knew, but whose number she had not saved in her phone. | Kirsty said she replied to Donovan's message thinking it was someone she knew, but whose number she had not saved in her phone. |
| Speaking to BBC CWR, they remembered how they first met at Coventry railway station and went for their first date at the then well-known city nightclub, the Colosseum, which is now called The Kasbah. | Speaking to BBC CWR, they remembered how they first met at Coventry railway station and went for their first date at the then well-known city nightclub, the Colosseum, which is now called The Kasbah. |
| Donovan said: "I started sending out random text messages, showing off to my friends. | Donovan said: "I started sending out random text messages, showing off to my friends. |
| "I picked the first four digits the same as mine, then the last three digits randomly - it was probably about five or six different numbers - and then didn't think anything of it." | "I picked the first four digits the same as mine, then the last three digits randomly - it was probably about five or six different numbers - and then didn't think anything of it." |
| Kirsty said: "We would text through the day and then obviously it would become more and more frequent and then at one point we decided we should phone each other." | Kirsty said: "We would text through the day and then obviously it would become more and more frequent and then at one point we decided we should phone each other." |
| "We were texting so much my phone bill was over £250 a month, I think that's when I decided we should call," Donovan continued. | "We were texting so much my phone bill was over £250 a month, I think that's when I decided we should call," Donovan continued. |
| "Feelings started to develop and she'd got the most beautiful Scottish accent, which attracted me to her as well." | "Feelings started to develop and she'd got the most beautiful Scottish accent, which attracted me to her as well." |
| The pair eventually met up about six months after Donovan sent the first text. | The pair eventually met up about six months after Donovan sent the first text. |
| "I said to my stepsister, I've got to go and meet this guy, and she was like, 'He could be anyone', and I was like, 'Yes, I know', but I was 18 and didn't really think about consequences", Kirsty said. | "I said to my stepsister, I've got to go and meet this guy, and she was like, 'He could be anyone', and I was like, 'Yes, I know', but I was 18 and didn't really think about consequences", Kirsty said. |
| "I just got on a train and came to Coventry." | "I just got on a train and came to Coventry." |
| 'It was magical' | 'It was magical' |
| Donovan said he was scared to make the first move, but Kirsty was much more assured. | Donovan said he was scared to make the first move, but Kirsty was much more assured. |
| "The rest is history," he said. | "The rest is history," he said. |
| "I remember coming back from our first night out and we just cuddled up, it was kind of magical in a way. | "I remember coming back from our first night out and we just cuddled up, it was kind of magical in a way. |
| "She is an amazing woman, she's so intelligent and we know each other so well, she's my best friend as well as my wife." | "She is an amazing woman, she's so intelligent and we know each other so well, she's my best friend as well as my wife." |
| More than 20 years on from their big day, the pair will be taking part in a mass renewal of vows at Coventry Cathedral on Valentine's Day, organised by BBC CWR. | More than 20 years on from their big day, the pair will be taking part in a mass renewal of vows at Coventry Cathedral on Valentine's Day, organised by BBC CWR. |
| Donovan said they are looking forward to celebrating the day as a family. | Donovan said they are looking forward to celebrating the day as a family. |
| "I took my son for a suit fitting yesterday and he absolutely loved it, then my girl, she's like, 'I want to see Mummy get dressed up', she can't wait," he added. | "I took my son for a suit fitting yesterday and he absolutely loved it, then my girl, she's like, 'I want to see Mummy get dressed up', she can't wait," he added. |
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