When Andrea Cullen moved into Charlton Grange Care Home in Shepperton, Surrey, Jimmy Cooper kept visiting her every day. Their relationship had begun almost a decade earlier, while they lived near each other in supported accommodation.
In spring 2026, the couple married with help from the people caring for Andrea. She was 85; Jimmy was 92.
A relationship that continued through a move
People’s May 21, 2026 report, syndicated by AOL, described Andrea’s move into the home that February and Jimmy’s regular visits.
The couple had previously lived together for more than a year. Moving into a different setting changed their daily arrangements, but their companionship continued.
Jimmy described Andrea as “a bundle of joy.”
Staff helped bring the wedding together
Their ceremony took place in the home’s courtyard. Staff helped plan it, the kitchen team arranged catering, and a carer who was also a pastor officiated.
That made the celebration part of a place already familiar to Andrea, with practical help from people she knew.
FOCUS’s June 7 account, citing reporting by SWNS, dated the wedding to April 11, 2026, and reported that Jimmy had proposed three weeks beforehand.
The ages in this story refer to that reporting, rather than an independently confirmed update on the couple today.
Making room for a milestone
The care home’s representative, Dr. Angad Singh Kooner, emphasized the continuing importance of relationships and personal choices. Surrey County Council’s Sinead Mooney likewise welcomed the wedding as a reminder that major occasions remain meaningful in later life.
For Andrea and Jimmy, the occasion grew from an existing relationship and the ordinary habit of spending time together. Staff helped make space for the celebration they wanted.
Read another story of people coming together for a wedding: Xu Chenghong’s invitation to strangers in Yunnan. For more on the value of taking time with older people, see Rishi Sharma’s work recording veterans’ memories.