Baby for couple reunited by web

Baby Dylan was born after an internet reunion

A couple whose childhood romance was rekindled through a school reunion website are celebrating the birth of their first baby together.

Annette Livingstone and Simon Smyth were 13-year-olds at Wooton Upper School in Bedford when they became sweethearts.

But their romance ended when Annette's family moved to Northamptonshire.

In the intervening 18 years Annette had married and divorced and lived with her daughter, Paige, now five, in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire.

Simon too had been married and divorced but had no children.

We didn't expect romance to blossom but things just changed

Annette Livingstone

Annette, a trainee accountant, said she had not been looking for romance when she logged on to the Friends Reunited website a year ago.

She was surprised to find Simon's name on the Wooton Upper School page and to learn that he lived less than a mile away from her in Milton Keynes.

A few e-mails later the couple, now both 33, met for a coffee and within days the two were in love.

In December Annette found she was pregnant and within weeks Simon had proposed. Their son, Dylan James, has just arrived weighing 8lb 10oz.

Incredible story

"We like to think it's an incredible story," said Annette.

"The years we were apart I did think about Simon. I have relatives in the village where he lived and once or twice I've gone past his house but I wouldn't have called in."

When they got in touch again neither had expected their old feelings to be rekindled.

"We were really good friends at school and it was just going to be catching up. He knew my family and I knew his.

"We didn't expect romance to blossom but things just changed from there."

'School nerd'

When the two met for the first time in 18 years Annette did not recognise Simon.

"He had changed so much since we were at school.

"He used to be a bit of a nerd at school but he isn't any more!"

The couple, who are to marry next spring, do not have plans for any more additions to the family.

"I already have a little girl so one of each is enough. That will do for us," she said.