Northampton couple who met through Chron's lonely hearts page celebrate 25 years together

When Rebecca Maycock placed an advert in the Chronicle & Echo's lonely hearts column in 1994, she only thought it would be a bit of fun to try.

"I never imagined it would go this far," she told the Chron ahead of her 25th wedding anniversary to her husband Michael - the man who wrote back asking if she'd like to go bowling.

April 15, 2020, will mark the silver anniversary of Rebecca and Michael Hollowell - who 25 years ago tied the knot after meeting through the Chron's classified pages.

Rebecca, who was 21 when she placed the advert, told the Chron: "I'd been on my own for a while and it's hard to go out and meet people when you're a girl. I thought it would be nice to meet people in a different way.

"I hadn't had a relationship that has lasted a long time for a while and I thought it would just be a bit of fun."

But when she placed the ad, she never imagined it would be spotted by her husband-to-be Michael Hollowell.

He said: "What made it stand out was it only appeared once. I looked through four different editions of the Chron from that week and saw Rebecca's was the only one that appeared only once.

"I didn't think I had a chance but I wrote back anyway. I thought loads of people would reply to her."

But as it was, Rebecca and Michael - aged 21 and 24 at the time - would meet up in late February.

Michael said: "I went to her house to pick her up and we went bowling at an old bowling alley in St James.

"Then we went for a walk in Brampton Valley Way. It was absolutely freezing.

"I was very nervous. It was strange how similar we were. I couldn't kiss her at the time in case I scared her off. It took weeks for me to pluck up the courage."

Rebecca said: "He was really friendly and chatty and we had a lot in common. A real gentleman. We just hit it off.

"Just to top it off he came back to my house and had to meet my entire family on our first date."

From that date in February, Michael popped the question in April just two months after they met.

They were married at St James Church in Kingsthorpe - who the Chronicle and Echo was happy to turn out to and photograph the happy couple.

Now, Rebecca - a teaching assistant - and Michael - a police officer - are celebrating 25 years together. They have three children and live in Kingsthorpe.

Rebecca said: "We never got to have a honeymoon - so we're thinking of finally taking that when the coronavirus lockdown is over and these mad times are finished.

"We had some hard times but we stuck together and worked hard on our relationship. If you really love somebody you don't give up on each other."