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End of a love story that spanned the globe
THEIR love spanned the world... but just six years after marrying Askern man John Davis, his Russian wife Valentina has lost her soul mate – to a massive heart attack that no-one saw coming.
After an Internet romance lasting nearly two years, Valentina gave up her home and a high-ranking career as a Russian Culture Minister, to move to the town to be with John.
But despite his shock death, she told the Newsletter last week that she had no regrets.
Heartbroken Valentina said: "I had this brilliant, powerful job in Russia, lots of friends, but I knew I would never meet again such a man as John.
"He has been my husband, my best friend, my everything. Now he has gone.
"But I could not have been any happier than he has made me this past eight years."
From her first meeting with John – waiting nervously at Heathrow
Airport, clutching a white Yorkshire rose – life had been one long high.
Sparked by a mutual passion for classical music the pair were pen pals for 18 months before John confessed he was falling in love.
He sent an email invitation to bring Valentina to Askern... when she was 51 and he was 55.
John died in Doncaster Royal Infirmary on September 18, at the age of 63, after a cardiac arrest.
"He never complained he felt ill – even if he did – so there was no warning," said Valentina.
"I feel as if nothing is real, as if I am in a film and this can't be really happening."
Valentina added: "From now, I will take just one day at a time...".
She said: "John said if I ever left him he would die straight away, from a broken heart.
"In hospital, as he lay dying, I told him I would never have thought of leaving him."
"We had a deep connection that transcended everything.
"Our story reads like a book, but it happened, and for now I plan to stay in Askern, in my home.
"I sold my flat in Russia, there is nothing there for me. My brother Nick is there but he has his own family.
"I started my life here from scratch, and now I have to start a new chapter in my book."
The past was never important to them as a couple, said Valentina, and they never talked about it, adding: "We never expected to find this sort of love at our age."
Only last month, the pair fulfilled a dream together by spending three days in Paris – a present from Valentina's daughter Lena, 32, who lives in the city.
"We saw the Mona Lisa, spent hours in the Louvre, the sun shone and it was a most wonderful time... all the more precious to me now," said Valentina.
Music has charted much of the couple's life together from their home on Belvedere Close.
Together they took protegees to Russia and played host to young musicians from Taganrog, Valentina's home town.
They held concerts at such venues as St Peter's Church, where John is remembered for his debut violin solo, accompanied by his wife's brother Nick on piano.
"He learned to play the violin specially for that one performance, a Russian folk song," recalled a tearful Valentina.
"He was quite famous for it. An international duet!"
John, a former engineer with British Gas, had lived in Askern for 10 years.
He and Valentina became popular members of the community and the support from their neighbours, colleagues and friends has been phenomenal, said the music teacher.
"My daughter rang me straight after I lost John, frantic that I would be sitting alone, weeping in my home," she said.
"But the fact is, I have not been alone for a minute, and the warmth and care people have shown from morning to night has kept me going.
"It has been truly amazing."
John's life changed dramatically when Valentina arrived, she was told.
"His friends claim he went from being grumpy, unshaven and always unhappy, spending all his time with his computer, his cigarettes and his dog, to a new person altogether," she recalled.
His funeral, conducted by Askern vicar and friend Mark Wigglesworth, took place at Pontefract Crematorium on September 25.
Added Valentina: "Mark spoke beautifully and his words were a comfort.
"I chose Rachmaninov's third piano concerto for the service, because John and I loved it so much. And I had Frank Sinatra's My Way".
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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