My husband’s 24 years my senior
A WOMAN whose husband is 24 years her senior has revealed how strangers cruelly labelled him a “paedo”.
Lauren Kenn, 34, and Bill Kenn, 58, from Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, have been together for eight years, but still endure cruel taunts whenever they go out.
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Despite the couple getting together when Lauren was 26, Bill was targeted online by close friends who called him “Jimmy Savile”, in reference to the disgraced TV and radio star, while strangers accused him of him “liking children”.
The couple, however, have refused to let the comments affect them and insist they’re happier than ever.
Lauren, a stay-at-home mum, says: “Since Bill and I got together, we have dealt with a lot of judgement. But we have learned to laugh it off and it has only made us stronger.
“Bill is the love of my life and I know we’re made for each other.”
In September 2011, Lauren met Bill, a retired crane operator, at a local karaoke night.
Lauren says: “Bill was wriggling his hips and dancing before he came over to introduce himself. I was only 23 and I guessed he was around 40.
“Even though he was much older, I realised we both loved music, fancy dress and singing. We were so similar.”
Over the next few years, Lauren and Bill kept bumping into each other on nights out.
“I was living with my boyfriend at the time but I was really unhappy. Soon I began confiding in Bill and he was there for me,” Lauren explains.
“After a while, I finally ended my relationship. I needed a place to stay and Bill kindly offered. The morning after I moved in, he told me he’d fallen for me and kissed me.
I wasn’t sure at first because of our age gap but as I got to know him more each day, my feelings grew
Lauren
“I wasn’t sure at first because of our age gap but as I got to know him more each day, my feelings grew.”
Weeks later, in February 2013, Lauren and Bill became a couple.
Lauren says: “One month later, Bill was having a birthday party and it was then when realised I still didn’t know his age.
“He said he was turning 50. He was older than I’d originally thought. But I didn’t care.”
Shortly after, Lauren and Bill came clean about their relationship to their families.
“My parents were shocked at first,” Lauren recalls.
“My dad was especially wary and told me Bill was too old for me and that I could get any man I wanted.
“But thankfully when they met Bill a few weeks later, they loved him.”
She says: “After that, Bill told his five sons, from a previous marriage.
As one of them was only two years younger than me, I was very nervous to meet them, but to my surprise, they welcomed me in with open arms.”
Despite Lauren and Bill having their family’s approval, they soon faced criticism from Bill’s friends over their relationship.
“Bill and I went to the pub and one of his friends said ‘Pass the sick bucket’ and others laughed,” Lauren reveals.
One of his friends commented ‘You must be younger than all of his sons. Bill is like Jimmy Savile’
Lauren
“It was upsetting but Bill reassured me it was because they were jealous.
“Soon after, I got a Facebook message from a random woman saying that Bill had cheated on me with her. I broke down in tears and confronted Bill.”
Lauren found out that the message was actually one of Bill’s friends attempting to split the couple up.
“Bill said it was all lies and it turned out the profile was fake. We realised it was one of Bill’s friends trying to split us up,” she says. “It was so cruel.”
Weeks later, Lauren uploaded a photo of her and Bill on Facebook.
Recalling the reaction it received, Lauren says: “One of his friends commented ‘You must be younger than all of his sons. Bill is like Jimmy Savile.’
“I couldn’t believe she’d call Bill that. It was horrifying. Bill and I cut her off for good.”
But from then on, Lauren and Bill still received comments from strangers.
Lauren says: “People around town constantly gawped at us whenever we held hands in public.
Each time we had a mean comment, it only made Bill and I stronger
Lauren
“Then one day, at the pub, a man called Bill a paedophile and said he must like kids. I snapped at him and said I was 26 and I was a grown adult.
“Thankfully the bouncer overheard and threw the man out. Another time a woman passed us on the street and said, ‘That lady is with her grandad.’”
Despite the taunts, the couple refused to let others ruin their relationship.
“Each time we had a mean comment, it only made Bill and I stronger,” Lauren insists.
In September 2014, Bill proposed to girlfriend Lauren while on holiday in Bulgaria.
Six months later, in July 2015, they tied the knot in front of their family and friends.
Lauren says: “Bill and I have been together for eight years now and we have a beautiful baby girl, Emily-Rose, who is now one.
“Bill is constantly mistaken for Emily-Rose’s dad and grandad, but we laugh it off now.
“Bill is the best thing to ever happen to me and his age will never matter.”
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