This Thursday (July 16) a 21-year-old long-distance love story will finally continue after lockdown thanks to Southampton Airport and Eastern Airways.
Ray Roberts, from Fareham in Hampshire, and Shirley Lancaster, from Yorkshire, first met aboard the QEII during a short cruise of the English Channel in 1999.
(Ray & Shirley 1999)
Ray had taken early retirement and carried out voluntary work on the world-famous cruise ship. The job involved chaperoning women traveling independently, mostly as a dancing partner. His title on the ship was ‘gentleman host’ and by the time he met Shirley, the then 63-year-old was on his tenth voyage.
When they met, Shirley was a 61-year-old widow. She had lost her husband several years previously and had retired from a career in fashion.
The pair met on the dance floor and hit it off straight away, and by the end of the cruise, they had become firm friends.
When the cruise ended, Shirley went home to Yorkshire and Ray back to his Hampshire home, and because each had family ties including children and grandchildren in their respective home town, a long-distance relation developed.
After many years of commuting by rail, the couple took to flying for a quicker, easier journey and have been flying to see each other via Eastern Airways, to and from Southampton Airport, for many years.
The couple – now aged 83 and 84 – have been covering the miles to see each other for 21 years now, and on Thursday (July 16) their love story will continue when Ray flies back to Yorkshire with his beloved Shirley, the first time since before the pandemic.
(Ray & Shirley 20 years later)
Steve Szalay, operations director for Southampton Airport, said:
“After a truly difficult few months for aviation, this fantastic love story certainly warms the heart of all of us here at Southampton Airport. It shows just how important regional airports are to providing that vital connectivity and we are absolutely delighted to have been able to play just a little part in helping keep Ray and Shirley’s love alive.”
A spokesperson for Eastern Airways said:
“Ray and Shirley are undoubtedly our longest-serving traveling couple. Their commitment to regularly visit each other from opposite ends of the country is a great testament to their wonderful story.
Our Customer Support team is always ready to assist them with their travel plans and we are delighted they support regional flying with Eastern Airways on our Leeds Bradford - Southampton service to ensure their love story continues. Love is certainly in the air.”