A man who is 19 years older than his wife was shocked to find out he had met her when she was a baby - and now the couple are expecting a little one of their own.
Rich Foetu Tomkinson, 48, met Evie Foetu Tomkinson, 29, when she walked into the pub he was working at in July 2018. Neither expected to end up in a relationship together because of their age gap, but they hit it off.
By October 2018 they couldn’t deny how they felt about each other, and moved in together in February 2019, with Rich proposing in September 2019.
READ MORE: Woman's 'wild' before and after photos show reality of Instagram images
Rich was shocked when he was introduced to Evie’s mum, Sarah Owen, 53, a councillor , and realised they had in fact met before while working on the same street as each other in the 90s - meaning he would have seen Evie as a baby when Sarah pushed her around in a pram.
With the support of their family and friends, the couple tied the knot in July 2022 and they are now expecting a baby together - due in January 2023. Rich, a surveyor, from Stafford, said: “It was a bit freaky when I realised I’d met Evie as a baby, but I had no idea at the time.
“We just laugh about it. Age is just a number to us, and you can’t help who you fall in love with. I’ve been mistaken for Evie’s dad before, but most people can see how well we click. The 19 year age gap doesn't bother us at all. Marrying Evie was the best day of my life and I’m so excited to have a baby with her.”
Evie, a social worker, said: “It was a bit odd when we worked out Rich had met me when I was a baby. He’s so fun and has the biggest heart.
“When we’re together you can’t really tell we’ve got a big age gap - apart from Rich’s grey beard. He’s going to be a great father.”
Evie said she was "drawn" to Rich from their first conversation. Rich later realised he had fallen for Evie by how much she missed her when she was away on holiday.
He added: “I told her when she came back, and she said she felt the same. My dad was diagnosed with cancer in October 2018 and passed away at Christmas and Evie stuck by me.”
The couple moved in together in February 2019 and Rich proposed in September 2019 in front of 1,000 people at their local theatre, during a showing of a documentary on the charity event he had put on in March 2019. Although the couple have always had the support of their families, they say they have been mistaken for father an daughter.
Evie said: "A woman asked if I was with my dad once But it wasn't malicious and I think she was mortified when I told her it was my boyfriend."
The couple found out they were pregnant in May 2022, two months before their wedding. Evie said: "We were so excited when we found out. Rich sobbed his eyes out.”
Now the newlyweds are looking forward to starting a family together and travelling in their converted van. Evie continued: "Rich is still a fit and healthy man and I know he's going to be a hands-on dad. He's going to be amazing.
Rich added: "We've already thought about people thinking I'm the grandad rather than the dad at sports days and things like that, we'll just laugh it off."
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT:
Snorers could be entitled to £156 monthly benefit
Dad tackles woman who stripped to underwear and tried to storm cockpit on Jet2 flight
ITV X Factor's Anthony Russell 'feared he would die' if he was paid in full for tour
Lorraine Kelly 'suffering mightily' amid break from ITV show
Unearthed footage shows a baby-faced Jodie Comer in first ever TV role
