Couple with combined age of 167 to become UK’s oldest newlyweds after whirlwind romance

He popped question while they sat in armchairs: 'it made it easier for me to get down on one knee'

The couple will spend their honeymoon on the south coast before a romantic getaway to the Lake District (Somerset County Gazette/SWNS)

A couple with a combined age of 167 are to become Britain’s oldest newlyweds.

Frank Bird, 88, and Muriel Kodritsch, 79, will tie the knot following a whirlwind nine month romance.

Mr Bird popped the question as they sat watching Pride and Prejudice together.

“Our armchairs were close together,” the retired oil company executive said. “It made it easy for me to get down on one knee.”

Ms Kodritsch, a former carer, added: “It was all so rapid I just can’t believe it. I’d settled for being on my own for the rest of my life.”

Their romance began after Mr Bird saw his fiancé-to-be at a Sunday church service near where they both live in Nynehead, Somerset, in November.

“Her smile and laughter caught my eye,” he told Somerset Live. “I thought she would be very nice to know.”

Three weeks later he sat next to her in the pews and the pair got talking. She soon invited him to meet her sister. He asked her away on a short holiday to the south coast.

“Everything changed when we found each other,” he said. “One problem with old age is loneliness but we bridged over the loneliness by being together.

“I hadn’t imagined getting married again and it was the same for Muriel but … throughout the whole experience we were getting on very well. We got closer and closer.”

He added: “We didn’t want a long engagement because of our age.”

The pair know all about making marriages work, too.

Mr Bird’s first wife Renee died in 2016 after 62 years together. Ms Kodritsch’s husband David passed away in 2014 after 52 years of marriage.

They will tie the knot at All Saints’ Church – where they first met – on 25 August with dozens of guests expected.

Ms Kodritsch will be given away by her son Kevin, 52, while Mr Bird’s best man will be his son Steven, 64.

The couple will spend their honeymoon on the south coast before a romantic getaway to the Lake District.

“I feel very fortunate finding love for a second time,” said Mr Bird.