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Chilliwack woman shares her leap-year love story

香蕉视频直播楽ee that guy over there? He hasn香蕉视频直播檛 danced once. When it香蕉视频直播檚 ladies香蕉视频直播 choice, I香蕉视频直播檓 going to ask him to dance.香蕉视频直播
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Isobel Boylan, seen holding her wedding photo in her Chilliwack home on Feb. 22, 2024, shared her leap year love story with The Chilliwack Progress. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Longtime Chilliwack resident Isobel Boylan has a soft spot in her heart for when a leap year rolls around.

The 2024 leap year would have marked her 68th wedding anniversary.

This week Isobel is remembering with fondness the day she took a leap of faith and proposed to Fred Charles Boylan.

It was at the very outset of their leap year love story, which began in Aberdeen, Scotland, where they both originally hailed from.

Her beloved husband, Fred, passed away in Chilliwack over two years ago, but Isobel, 88, still vividly remembers the day they met.

It was at the Leap Year Dance on leap day, Feb. 29, 1956 at the Palais Ballroom in Aberdeen.

Isobel had been working as a window dresser in a clothing shop. One day she told her co-workers she was going to attend the big dance with her friend, Ruby.

香蕉视频直播淭hey teased us saying: 香蕉视频直播榊ou two better get a man tonight or you will have another four years until the next leap year.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈

The two friends made a pact that the one who sees them home after the dance would be the one they ask to marry.

The leap year tradition of ladies香蕉视频直播 choice dates back to the fifth century Ireland, when it was known as Bachelors香蕉视频直播 Day. It spread across much of Europe, decreed as the one day, every four years, that a woman could propose to the man.

When Isobel first set eyes on Fred, he was sitting on the sidelines at the dance.

香蕉视频直播淎fter a few dances I said to my friend, 香蕉视频直播楽ee that guy over there? He hasn香蕉视频直播檛 danced once, he香蕉视频直播檚 just chatting with his pals. When it香蕉视频直播檚 ladies香蕉视频直播 choice, I香蕉视频直播檓 going to ask him to dance.香蕉视频直播樝憬妒悠抵辈

And so she did. They danced all night. When he asked to see her home, she said yes.

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Isobel Boylan, seen holding her wedding photo in her Chilliwack home on Feb. 22, 2024, shared her leap year love story with The Chilliwack Progress. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

They walked for a spell and Fred told Isobel he was on leave from the British Royal Air Force.

As they went to say goodnight, Isobel asked, 香蕉视频直播淲ill you marry me?香蕉视频直播

He was quite shocked, until she explained it was a leap-year pact that she made with Ruby.

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香蕉视频直播淗e asked me if we could go dancing again so we met at the Beach Ballroom and had a wonderful evening,香蕉视频直播 she recalled.

Fred walked Isobel home again.

香蕉视频直播淭he next night we went to see a movie then went to a cafe. Fred ordered two teas; I will never forget he didn香蕉视频直播檛 get cake or scones. I have a hard time drinking tea without eating,香蕉视频直播 she confessed.

Then the leave was over and he reported back to the army base, RAF Wittering in Stamford, England, in the county of Lincolnshire.

They promised to write to each other.

At one point Fred booked another week香蕉视频直播檚 leave just as Isobel was taking a week香蕉视频直播檚 vacation of her own from work.

Then his leave got cancelled so she decided to go to Stamford to meet him there.

香蕉视频直播滺e booked me a hotel and met me at the railway station.香蕉视频直播

They went to the George Hotel, the nicest place in town.

香蕉视频直播淚 told him 香蕉视频直播業 can香蕉视频直播檛 stay here it香蕉视频直播檚 too expensive,香蕉视频直播 and promptly got a room at a local pub.香蕉视频直播

Things were progressing nicely.

香蕉视频直播淲e really liked each other and as he was scheduled in a couple of months to go to Australia for three years taking part in atomic bomb testing, we decided to get married.香蕉视频直播

So they did, on July 7, only four months and one week after their first meeting.

It was a modest wedding with just family in attendance, she had her wedding dress made.

香蕉视频直播漌e all went to the Atheneum Hotel for a meal and a two-tier cake provided by my mother,香蕉视频直播 Isobel remembered.

She and Fred raised three children, and eventually moved to Chilliwack where they settled for the past 33 years.

They shared eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. For their 30th wedding, they renewed their vows and held an even fancier party than the original wedding celebration.

This year would have marked their 68th anniversary, prompting Isobel to ask the age-old question:

香蕉视频直播淲ho says there is no such thing as love at first sight?香蕉视频直播

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Isobel Boylan, seen holding her wedding photo in her Chilliwack home on Feb. 22, 2024, shared her leap year love story with The Chilliwack Progress. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)


Jennifer Feinberg

About the Author: Jennifer Feinberg

I have been a Chilliwack Progress reporter for 20+ years, covering city hall, Indigenous, business, and climate change stories.
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