Bill Cooke & Iris King met at bereavement class

by Rachel Hovenden

They are both 76, have three sons and nine grandchildren each, and were married for 56 years to their spouses before they died.

With so much in common Bill Cooke and Iris King were bound to get along – and some would say it was more than a few coincidences that have brought them together.

After both turning to a bereavement group for support, the pair are now smiling again after finding not only help and friendship, but love.

The pair fell for each other at the bereavement group run by north Kent charity, the EllenorLions Hospices.

Iris King’s husband, Peter (pictured right), died in October 2009. With tears in her eyes, she said: “I was finding things extremely difficult after Pete died so I turned to the EllenorLions Hospices for support.

"You can’t really explain what it feels like to lose someone you love. It’s very hard and very lonely. You don’t know how you are going to carry on.
“Coming home to an empty house is so difficult."

Things changed for Iris, of Packham Road, Northfleet, in May this year when she was introduced to Bill at his first group meeting.

Bill, of Coombfield Drive, Darenth, was told about the EllenorLions Hospices’ bereavement group, which meets at the charity’s centre in St Ronan’s View, Dartford, after his wife Dorothy (pictured below left) died in March.

He said: “I was in tears when I arrived at the first meeting. Fiona, who oversees the group, introduced me to Iris.

“We got chatting and it became clear that we had lots in common. Straight away I felt there was something there. When I left, I felt like a changed person.”

Bill and Iris still attend the group, and as the weeks have passed their relationship has blossomed.

The couple have met each other’s families and although they are celebrating their new found love, Peter and Dorothy are always in their thoughts.

Iris said: “Both of us were married for 56 years. After losing Pete and Dot, we never thought we would feel like this again. We are in love but when we are together we talk about Pete and Dot all the time.
“It’s like they are here with us.”

The pair, who describe themselves as “recycled teenagers”, are now looking forward to spending their futures together.

Bill said: “We have booked a holiday to Majorca with Iris’ family and a trip to Sandwich in my caravan. We are also planning on going away together at Christmas.

“I recently bought Iris a necklace with a pearl pendant. I call it our tear of happiness.

“The bereavement group brought us together and we can’t thank Fiona and the team enough. We are now looking forward to life and looking forward to our future together.
“It’s looking very bright and life is worth living again.”

Fiona Drozdiak, from the charity’s counselling and family support team, said: “To watch something positive grow from the difficult experience that all the members have in common is wonderful.

“Members run this group themselves and they always welcome new people with open arms. They are so supportive of each other, I just feel privileged to be a part of it.”

• The bereavement group, for relatives of patients cared for by the charity, meets every Thursday morning at the EllenorLions Centre in St Ronan’s View, Dartford. To donate £5 to the hospice text Yes to 70700. For terms and conditions visit www.ellenorlions.org