Man Who Is 19 Years Older Than His Wife Shocked To Discover He Met Her When She Was A Baby

A husband who is 19 years older than his wife was astonished to learn that he had known her as a newborn.

In July 2018, Rich Foetu Tomkinson, 48, first met his wife Evie Foetu Tomkinson, 29, when she entered the bar where he was employed.

Despite neither of them expecting to connect due to their age difference, by October 2018 they could no longer resist their feelings for one another. They moved in together in February 2019 and Rich proposed to her in September 2019.

Rich was surprised to learn that Evie's mother, Sarah Owen, 53, and he had previously met when working on the same street in the 1990s. As a result, Rich would have seen Evie as a newborn while Sarah was carrying her around in a pram.

Rich, a surveyor, said: “It was a bit freaky when I realized 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.” 

The couple got married in July 2022 and are now expecting a child together in January of the following year.

Rich, from Stafford, Staffordshire, continued: “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.” 

When they discovered Rich had met Evie when she was a baby, Evie, a social worker, admitted it was "a bit odd," but she went on to say: "He's so fun and has the biggest heart.”

“When we’re together you can’t tell we’ve got a big age gap - apart from Rich’s grey beard.”

“He’s going to be a great father.” 

When Evie returned, Rich realized he had fallen for her. He told her he "really missed her" only to discover that she felt the same way.

“My dad was diagnosed with cancer in October 2018 and passed away at Christmas and Evie stuck by me,” he said. 

Rich later got down on one knee after a documentary screening in front of a crowd of 1,000 people at a charity event he organized in March 2019 and asked for the proposal.

“I didn’t hesitate to say yes,” Evie said. 

The couple claims they occasionally get mistaken for father and daughter, but they have always had the backing of their families.

Evie explained: "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." 

“Our family and friends have always been supportive, and they can see how happy we are.” 

“At the beginning, I don’t think anyone expected we would last - even us - but now we’re happily married and expecting a little one.” 

Evie said Rich would be an ‘amazing’ and ‘hands-on’ dad, with her husband adding: "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."