Milton Keynes couple who lost touch for 30 years plan to wed after reuniting on Facebook

Childhood sweethearts who dated as 10-year-olds are planning plan to marry after reconnecting Facebook more than three decades later

Darren Arthur and Keely Chivers, both 45, were in the same class at Portfields primary school in Newport Pagnell, where they became each other's first boyfriend and girlfriend.

They lost touch after Darren's family moved away from the area, but reconnected 33 years later after Keely discovered Darren on Facebook.

And, after agreeing to meet up in person, the couple quickly fell in love and are now planning to get married in September.

Darren and Keely were in the same class at Portfields for two years.

Darren said "I used to go knocking for her when she was my girlfriend back in the day. I remember her mum always used to give me orange juice as I waited for her.

"We were as boyfriend and girlfriend as you can be at that age - we must have been around 10 or 11. I just remember always hanging around with her."

But in 1986 Darren's family moved 123 miles away from Newport Pagnell to Doncaster, due his dad changing jobs, and the pair lost touch.

They each went on to marry different partners but both found themselves divorced in 2015.

Then in August 2018, single Keely searched for her Darren on Facebook and sent him a friend request.

She said: "I don't know what was going through my head when I searched for him. It wasn't like he had been playing on my mind all these years.

"We didn't have mobile phones or the internet when we were at school so we just lost touch and never re-appeared in each other's lives.

"He was the popular cheeky chappy at school so I remember being chuffed to bits that he was my boyfriend. But we were pretty young. I think all we used to do was hold hands and go knock for one another so we could play outside. That's when it was safe for you to do so."

Within an hour Darren accepted the Facebook request and Keely sent him a message, saying: 'Hey Darren, can't believe that's really you!!! Long long time hope you are well x'.

Darren replied: 'Well it's certainly me. Crickey how many years is it? x'.

Keely revealed: "We just got on really well and the conversation was really flowing. I'm glad I took the plunge."

After speaking 'non-stop' for two weeks, the couple decided to meet meet up in August 2018, and said they 'fell in love in an instant'.

Darren said: "I invited her round and when I saw her in the middle of my hallway I was just shaking. But that's when you can tell you like them. She still had the same beautiful eyes and hair. She was obviously a bit bigger but that's what happens."

Meanwhile Keely said: "When I saw him it was definitely love at first sight. I remember I had the butterflies in my stomach when I was driving up there.

"Although it's been the most bizarre start to a relationship I've had it's definitely been the best."

The pair, who are now living in Milton Keynes, plan to get married in September this year, and even have old school friends as their wedding guests.

Keely said: "I already have the dress I want. I knew it was the one for me when his mum cried... just can't wait to become his wife and spend the rest of my life with him."