Couple become Britain's oldest newlyweds

HONITON, England, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- A couple whose ages add up to a combined 179 said they have set a record as Britain's oldest newlyweds after nine years of dating.

Penny Cooper, 90, and John Dawkins, 89, said their nuptials Tuesday at the Honiton, England, register office -- setting a record for the largest combined age for a newlywed couple in Britain, The Daily Mail reported Friday.

Dawkins said Cooper was forced to move out of his home and into an extended care facility after she suffered a stroke 18 months ago, but he has been making daily visits to his sweetheart. On Feb. 29, she proposed marriage.

"It is a wonderful thing to love -- it gives me a great amount of pleasure to be with her. Without a shadow of a doubt, I would have been a very grumpy old man if I had not met Penny," Dawkins said.

The new husband said that between the two of them, he and his wife have four children, five grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren from previous marriages. He said all of them were in attendance at the ceremony.