‘WE are in love’ — two nonagenarians who fell in love over their passion for travel will be sharing their first Christmas together as a married couple after tying the knot last week.

John Greenwood, who is 92 today (December 21), and Elizabeth Ashley, 90, declared their love surrounded by famil, at a wedding ceremony at Kilworthy Park Registry Office in Tavistock on Monday, December 11.

Elizabeth met John in September this year, six months after she moved to retirement housing development Parkwood Court in Tavistock, where they both live.

‘We didn’t fall in love instantly but when we realised we were both well travelled, we would meet and reminisce about the places we had been around the world over a drink at John’s flat,’ said Elizabeth.

‘People say we are sensible to get married to have the company but we didn’t do it for the company. We are 90 and 91 and we have fallen in love as though we are 19 again.

John said: ‘We would talk about the interesting places we had been and the things we like — we like the same books, music, ballet, opera and travel — I love her. I proposed on November 28 and we were married on December 11.

‘People are probably wondering what we are doing getting married at our age but we found each other and we are in love.’

After the wedding ceremony, the pair enjoyed a honeymoon in a secret location for two days and now look forward to a large celebration with friends and family some time next year.

Elizabeth, originally from Sussex, was born on April 18, 1927, and at the age of 19 was in the Land Army in the Sussex area during World War Two. She was first married when she was 19 and had three children James, Jacqueline and Sally. Her second marriage saw her name change to Elizabeth Parr and it is this name that is highly regarded in the art world as she is a successful and well-known painter — and some of her art even hangs in the halls of some top named celebrities.

‘I love to paint and I have always painted especially when I was at Coverack and only 20ft away from the sea,’ said Elizabeth, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer.

Elizabeth and her third husband Douglas Ashley, moved to Lamerton in 2004 but when Douglas died three years ago, and after Elizabeth suffered a shoulder injury, she decided to move to Tavistock as she could no longer operate a car safely.

When it was time to learn more about John’s life before Elizabeth for this article in the Times, his reply was: ‘I think Elizabeth is much more interesting than me. She is the special one!

‘We are very much in love and she is my friend, I love her and that’s the best thing.’

True love!