Mandy lands her man after 30-year wait

A besotted woman has finally married the man of her dreams 30 years after he stood her up on their first date!

Determined Mandy Ashforth, 48, always held out hope she would one day find Barrie Moat, 50, after he failed to show up for a date back in 1982.

After tracking him down on Facebook last year, the couple rekindled their romance and last week tied the knot in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

Mandy said: “We had a perfect day. A real fairytale wedding. I had a big white dress and seven bridesmaids. It’s hard to believe this has happened so many years apart.”

Mandy was 17 when she fell in love with 19-year-old Barrie on holiday in the coastal town of Bridlington. But she was left heartbroken when he failed to meet her for their first date, after she returned home to Rotherham. The tearful teen waited for two hours at the bus station but she could not contact him as they had not swapped details.

Mandy went on to marry and have five children but when her marriage ended in January 2013, she went on to Facebook to try to track down her first love. After finding him online their romance was swiftly rekindled.

She said: “I always dreamt that one day I would see him again. I still have to pinch myself that we are finally a couple and planning to spend the rest of our lives together.”

Barrie, from Sheffield, had recently separated from his partner when Mandy got in touch.

The dad-of-one said: “I have no idea why I didn’t turn up for the date. I only joined Facebook to promote my fishing pole business.

“I assumed Mandy was involved with fishing so I accepted her friend request and things quickly clicked into place.”