'Jealous strangers insult us for being in love - but it won't stop us'

12 March 2024 , 11:26

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Danielle and Gareth have received cruel comments about their love for one another

Sadly not everyone has been supportive of Danielle Kent and Gareth Palmer's blossoming romance.

The couple, who are now set to tie the knot, met at work in a care home. And as sparks flew, they knew there was something more between them than just colleagues. They revealed their relationship to their boss who was 'thrilled' for the pair, however they haven't had the same response from their family and even strangers, who have dealt cruel comments.

Danielle, 32, and Gareth, 54, from Emsworth, Hampshire, have been insulted after public displays of affection, while family members have rudely questioned their 22-year age gap. But they're not letting the harsh criticism get in the way of their love, as they're planning to start a family after hitting back at snide remarks about the size of Gareth's manhood and whether Danielle is "doing her bit for the community".

The couple are planning on getting married and starting a family

The couple say that while they simply "laugh off" the obscene comments, they have been left feeling hurt and belittled. Danielle was accused of taking advantage of a vulnerable person by a relative, whom she does not wish to name, after they first started dating.

"For me, age has never really been an issue," Danielle, who previously dated a man 17 years older, explained. "I think they are just insecure themselves and potentially jealous.

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"We are very tactile and when we're together, we kind of forget that there are other people around. I think if we weren’t as affectionate we wouldn’t get as many comments. But if you love someone, age doesn’t matter."

Gareth, who is also a professional photographer, added: "I want to know why people feel the need to belittle what we have and what gives you the right?" The pair met at the Willow Lodge Care Home in August 2022. Gareth, who was the facilities manager at the time, was tasked with showing Danielle the building's fire safety features.

Over the coming weeks, they would bump into each other at work and found the conversation flowed naturally. By the October, Gareth plucked up the courage to ask Danielle out for a drink.

"I messaged her saying, 'we should probably discuss this over a drink some time,'" said Gareth. "And she immediately replied, 'yes, are you free tomorrow?'"

"We were sat opposite each other and I didn't like the distance between us, so I edged my chair round closer," added Danielle.

They broke the news to their boss a few weeks later who was "thrilled" for them and by the New Year, Danielle had moved in with Gareth. But not everyone has been supportive of their relationship. "A family member, who I won’t name, accused me of taking advantage of someone vulnerable," said Danielle.

Danielle and Gareth are very tactile in public

"It really, really got to me because at the time I was a healthcare assistant so I looked after vulnerable people. So that really hit home and hurt a lot." "The one thing I’m not is vulnerable," added Gareth.

Danielle and Gareth have also faced judgment from complete strangers. On one occasion, the couple were enjoying a drink at a pub in Havant when a man commented: "It’s really nice that you are doing your bit for the community."

"We sat down and kissed each other, and he saw that, so he knew we were in a relationship," said Danielle. "I didn’t want to cause a scene, but I have to admit, my blood did boil and I did a lot to control myself. I just laughed it off."

Another time, they were playing pool at their local sports club when a man made a joke about the size of Gareth's genitals. "One of the guys just said it quite loudly," said Gareth. "It’s just so childish."

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Gareth has also been told that his relationship with Danielle is "weird" by family members whom he does not wish to name. The comments have not stopped the couple from being affectionate in public.

"Danielle and I are very tactile, wherever we are, we hold hands, we hug and we kiss," said Gareth. "We don’t see other couples who are as tactile as we are," added Danielle. "Maybe it is because of the affection rather than the age gap, but I expect it’s a bit of both."

Not everyone has been critical of their relationship, with one woman walking past in the street commenting “it’s nice to have someone to hold your hand" and another describing the couple’s love as "so wholesome". The pair are now planning to marry and hope to start their own family.

The couple hopes their experience will help break the 'stigma' around dating someone older

"Before meeting Danielle I had certainly assumed that I would never have kids and there was always this kind of niggling regret," said Gareth. Danielle added: "I used to work with children years ago and it really put me off having my own because there were so many and it was so stressful.

"But I think just spending time with Gareth has made me a lot more maternal." The couple hope their experience will help break the stigma around dating someone older. "The amount of people I’ve heard over the years who say that a 70-year-old couple kissing in public is disgusting," said Danielle.

"But why is there an age limit on expressions of love? Isn’t there enough negativity in the world? It’s a positive thing. It’s love." Asked what advice they would give to other age-gap couples, Danielle said: "You only live once and I think if you love someone, that’s all that matters.

"We did go through times when the topic of conversation was quite negative when it came to family and friends’ views. But I just got to the point where I was like, why am I wasting so much of our happiness on negative comments? I don’t need to think about that because I’m sat next to the person who is my world."

Tom Campbell