I lost touch with my first love – 32 years later, we’re married

A pair of pen-pal lovers who met when they were 17 and 23 in the 80s – and then lost contact for decades – have revealed how they have rekindled their love and are moving to Germany together this month.

Kate Pymm and Guenther Baer – now 50 and 57 respectively – tied the knot after reconnecting during the pandemic, both having been married and divorced to other people.

The couple first met in Devon, in 1989, after Gunther, who is originally from Germany, came to the UK to improve his English. 

‘I remember me and my mum went for a bite to eat in this beautiful village. We walked into the bar and I saw this gorgeous guy,’ Kate – who is from Guisborough – told the BBC.

The make-up artist told the outlet that Gunther had reminded her of A-ha keyboardist Magne Furuholmen, and the pair chatted the time away.

The couple first met in Devon, in 1989, after Gunther, who is originally from Germany, came to the UK to improve his English

It was the start of a long-distance romance.

Kate and Guenther exchanged addresses and, for two years, wrote letters to one another, scheduling in phone calls and visits whenever was feasible.

But the back and forth proved too much for Kate, who broke things off in 1991 –  admitting it was a ‘heart-breaking’ decision as the pair were still in love.

They had stopped writing in 1993 and went on to lead separate lives – Kate now runs a successful make-up business and Guenther has three children.

But amid the Covid pandemic, Kate found herself faced with a treasure trove of memories.

She stumbled upon their love letters – all of which she kept – in November 2020 while on the hunt for Christmas decorations, telling the BBC it was the ‘first box that she found’.

After an ’emotional weekend’ during which she read all of their correspondence in date order, Kate was determined to find her old flame once again – which proved difficult due to Guenther’s elusive social media presence.

Her old pen pal was ‘gobsmacked’ to read the letter and immediately phoned her up.

This time, the pair wasted no time; they met face to face in January 2021, and by December of that year, were married in a beautiful Bavarian wedding

Her old pen pal was ‘gobsmacked’ to read the letter and immediately phoned her up. And now the couple are starting their new life in Germany on Sunday

This time, the pair wasted no time; they met face to face in January 2021, and by December of that year, were married in a beautiful Bavarian wedding. 

And now the couple are starting their new life there on Sunday. 

‘Our dream finally came true,’ Kate penned in a gushing Instagram post about the ceremony. ‘WE GOT MARRIED!!!!!

‘We had a beautiful small, intimate registry office Wedding here in Guenther’s home town with our immediate Bavarian family.’

Kate added the couple were keen to do ‘the “legal bit”‘ in Germany.

She continued: ‘I’m now finally “Mrs Baer” after 31 Years of loving this wonderful, gorgeous man, my happy ever after finally arrived. Here’s to 30 Years more ….. at least!’