Skip to content

Rev Richard Coles: 'It's the love story we all need'

Reverend Richard Coles Lee Hearn and Lizzie ForbesReverend Richard Coles
Lee Hearn, also known as Eric, and Lizzie Forbes had known each other for 11 years

BBC presenter and former pop musician the Reverend Richard Coles said the marriage of two of his parishioners was the "love story we need right now".

A tweet from the vicar of St Mary's church, Finedon, Northamptonshire, about the wedding of Lizzie Forbes and Lee (Eric) Hearn won 27,500 "likes".

The Communards keyboard player said he "moved mountains" to officiate at the event just before the second lockdown.

He was one of the many "cogs" that got the couple together, the bride said.

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

Mr Coles said in his tweet "Eric from the cricket club" came to see him to tell him he loved Lizzie, but she had emigrated to Australia and he wanted to know what to do.

He told his parishioner: "You know what to do," and Mr Hearn flew to Sydney.

BBC/Duncan Stingemore The Reverend Richard ColesBBC/Duncan Stingemore
BBC presenter the Reverend Richard Coles told Eric Hearn, "You know what to do"

Lizzie Hearn, 31, said when she met Eric 11 years ago there was an immediate "spark" but as they both were going out with other people, they remained friends.

Then in 2016 they were both single again and "got together".

But she had decided she wanted to go travelling and to live in Australia.

She said after coming home for a visit a few months later: "I realised I wanted to be with him."

However, she still wanted to work in Australia and returned there.

Lizzie Forbes Lizzie Forbes and Eric HearnLizzie Forbes
Eric went to visit Lizzie in Australia after he had a little talk with the Reverend Richard Coles

A few months later Mr Hearn came to visit after his "chat" with Mr Coles and she came back to the UK early.

"We have been together ever since," she said.

Mr Hearn, 38, said: "I always knew our love story was something that would happen in the end. I've played the long game."

Jon Baish The wedding of Lizzie Forbes and Lee HearnJon Baish
Lizzie Forbes said about their relationship "we were always meant to be together and here we are"
presentational grey line

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]