Couple Get Married 40 Years after Their First Date Was Forbidden by the Girl’s Strict Dad

Fate came through for a couple who were kept apart by the woman’s father because he thought the man had been too “arty.”

Love is a beautiful emotion and everyone who has ever felt it can attest to this. Unfortunately, when Madeleine Coburn fell in love with Bill Brookman, her brother’s friend, her father put his foot down.

The man had his reasons, and he did succeed in separating his daughter and Brookman; however, fate intervened and, after decades, stirred the two lovers towards one another again. 

HOW THEY MET

Madeleine Coburn was still a child when she met Bill Brookman in Loughborough, Leicestershire, where they still reside. He had been a schoolmate of her brother’s and had not paid attention to her.

According to Bill, she was “the little sister of no importance whatsoever,” but all that changed in 1978 when they both got involved in theater.

Bill was a director while a 16–year–old Madeleine was taking part as an actress, and they got closer during their time together. At some point, he asked her on a date, and she agreed. 

HER FATHER DIDN’T THINK MUCH OF HIM

Madeleine was quite taken with Bill; however, when her dad discovered she planned to go on a date with him, he forbade her from doing so because he thought Bill was “too arty.”

Unable to fight her dad’s decision, Madeleine had no choice but to cancel the date. She kept the reason from Bill, who was disappointed but mature enough to accept his loss and move on. He said:

“That’s just the way life is.”

A LOVE REKINDLED BY FATE

Madeleine never married; she became a specialist in the heritage and arts sector, but performer Bill got married once and welcomed two sons before he and his wife separated.

The pair met again in 2008 when they joined forces to work on a school project in Leicester. However, it took four years for Bill to summon the courage to ask Madeleine out again, and her answer was the same as before.

After becoming a couple, Bill took Madeleine to the pub he had chosen for their date decades before, and she thought it was a charming act. 

SOMETIMES THE WAIT IS WORTH IT

Bill popped the big question to Madeleine while their conversation was being recorded by BBC Radio 4; however, the woman had refused to provide an answer at the time.

Afterward, when they were off the air, they posed together for a photo, and that’s when the beautiful Madeleine gave her answer, and again, it was a yes. 

“The fact we didn’t go out together when we were younger meant that we’ve both lived very rich lives,” Madeleine said. “Then we found each other again, and it was a special thing that happened to us, so I think we’re very lucky.”