A woman has revealed how she fell in love with the bouncer who kicked her out of a nightclub for fighting – and admitted that most strangers call their relationship ‘inappropriate’ due to 29-year age gap.
Support worker Lauren Kerr, 26, from Middlesbrough, first met Anthony Shaylor, 55, from Stockport, during a night out in her hometown in 2017.
However, their first impressions of each other weren’t particularly positive, since Anthony was tasked with escorting Lauren out of the nightclub after she got into a brawl.
But the Monday after the weekend incident, Lauren began a new job and was shocked to discover Anthony had also started working at the company on the same day.
For Anthony, it was love at second sight and Lauren was soon attracted to his charisma, with a work romance blossoming in November 2017 before the couple welcomed their first daughter Ruby, one, in April 2020.
Support worker Lauren Kerr, 26, from Middlesbrough, first met Anthony Shaylor, 55, from Stockport, during a night out in her hometown in 2017 (pictured together)
However, their first impressions of each other weren’t particularly positive, since Anthony was tasked with escorting Lauren out of the nightclub after she got into a brawl. Pictured with their daughter Ruby
Fortunately, the pair have had the full support of their families throughout their relationship, despite their 29-year age gap.
For Lauren, she said the advantages of being with a man almost three decades older than her, is that Anthony has a wealth of life experience, is secure and stable and knows who he is and what he wants in life.
But when in public, Lauren and Anthony have found that strangers will stare at them if they show any signs of affection towards one another.
Lauren has also been asked on several occasions if she is Anthony’s daughter – and while it used to bother her, she now says that she has learnt to laugh it off.
But the Monday after the weekend debacle, Lauren (pictured with her partner) began a new job and was shocked to discover Anthony had also started working at the company on the same day
For Anthony, it was love at second sight and Lauren (pictured together) was soon attracted to his charisma, with a work romance blossoming in November 2017 before the couple welcomed their first daughter Ruby, one, in April 2020
Fortunately, the pair (pictured) have had the full support of their families throughout their relationship, despite their 29-year age gap
The couple are eager to tell the world that ‘love is love’ regardless of age.
Lauren said: ‘The age gap has never really affected us all that much apart from comments from outsiders about how it’s inappropriate.
‘Sometimes people stare when they see us together or make comments asking if I’m Anthony’s daughter.
‘In the beginning it bothered me a lot but as time went on I laughed it off. We chose to ignore that and loved each other more despite it.’
For Lauren, she said the advantages of being with a man almost three decades older than her, is that Anthony (pictured together) has a wealth of life experience, is secure and stable and knows who he is and what he wants in life
But when in public, Lauren (pictured with her daughter) and Anthony have found that strangers will stare at them if they show any signs of affection towards one another
She continued: ‘Anthony isn’t bothered at all by what others think. Our families reacted really well to our relationship and just want us to be happy and I get on really well with my in-laws and they are family to me.’
Anthony was married for 25 years and then divorced before meeting Lauren, and has an estranged 19-year-old son.
‘Sometimes Anthony gets down about not seeing his son but I think our daughter Ruby helps a lot with this,’ said Lauren.
Anthony was married for 25 years and then divorced before meeting Lauren (pictured together), and has an estranged 19-year-old son
The mother-of-one added: ‘You never know what you could find in a person if you don’t give it a chance due to their age. It’s a small thing in the grand scheme of things and actually affects others more than it affects our own relationship.’
Anthony is keen to get married once again and try for a second child with Lauren, as well as buy their own home.
‘The plan for the future is to get married and have another child,’ said Lauren. ‘We want to buy a house and a campervan and travel the world and we will always do it together, as a family.
‘For others concerned about falling in love with an older or younger person, trust your instincts about how you feel about that person and go with it. You won’t regret it.’