Doncaster man to marry childhood sweetheart 33 years on, after pair reunite on Facebook

A Doncaster man is set to marry his childhood sweetheart – after the pair were reunited on Facebook following 33 years apart.
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Darren Arthur and Keely Chivers, both aged 45, first became boyfriend and girlfriend at primary school when they were aged just 10.

But after Darren’s family moved from Milton Keynes to Doncaster, the pair lost touch – until they were brought back together in 2018.

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And after meeting up and falling in love all over again, the pair are now planning to marry in September.

The couple lost touch after Darren moved to Doncaster in 1986. (Photo: SWNS).The couple lost touch after Darren moved to Doncaster in 1986. (Photo: SWNS).
The couple lost touch after Darren moved to Doncaster in 1986. (Photo: SWNS).

Darren revealed: “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 to Doncaster due his dad changing jobs and he lost touch.

The pair went on to marry different partners but both found themselves divorced in 2015.

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

Keely and Darren are back together - 33 years after drifting apart as childhood sweethearts. (Photos: SWNS).Keely and Darren are back together - 33 years after drifting apart as childhood sweethearts. (Photos: SWNS).
Keely and Darren are back together - 33 years after drifting apart as childhood sweethearts. (Photos: SWNS).

Keely explained: “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.”

Darren said: “When I saw the friend request I just thought ‘who the hell is that?’

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“But then her old surname was in brackets and the penny dropped.”

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'.

“We just love each other so much. And the thing is we just haven't had an argument. It's just going so well,” said Keely.

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Over the next eight months the couple would meet a few times a week - taking it in turns to commute from Milton Keynes to Doncaster - before Darren moved in with Keely last April.

The couple are now planning their wedding in September this year and say they can't wait to spend the rest of their lives together.