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Martin and Vanda have bought their forever home together – and are set to get married – after meeting on a blind date.
Martin Donohoe, 63, and Vanda Elliott, 61, purchased a three-bedroom bungalow at Curzon Park in the Derbyshire village of Wingerworth, after they met at a local country house.
The pair, who were both divorced, first met in 2018 after Martin’s eldest daughter Laura, who worked with Vanda, introduced them, which led to them meeting for walks and coffees.
“Our first meeting was at Hardwick Hall where we went for a stroll around the grounds, then sat down for a coffee,” said Martin. “We got on really well, met again for a meal, then again to go to the cinema, then we realised we were good together as a couple and our relationship flourished.
"We soon realised we had something special together and wanted to share our future. Now, we have bought our forever home together and are getting married in April.”
Martin was living in a four-bedroom house in Woolley Moor, near Wingerworth, while Vanda was in a four-bedroom home near Shirebrook. Vanda’s three children Scott, Josh and Bethanie are grown-up while, as well as Laura, Martin has a 17-year-old son named Fynn and a 13-year-old daughter, Molly.
“Vanda and I decided we would sell our respective homes and live together in a smaller place which did not need much, if any, upkeep. We needed three bedrooms to cater for our family requirements.
“Staying in the area fits our work and domestic lifestyle with great access to surrounding countryside. We chose to look for a bungalow as a forever home as we don’t want to have to move again.
James was brilliant throughout the house-buying process. He was very helpful and kept us fully informed every step of the way.”
The couple set about searching the area for a new home during Sunday afternoon drives.
“We looked at quite a few developments but, when we came across Curzon Park, we liked the look of it,” said Martin. “James, the sales advisor, showed us a few bungalows and we chose our favourite. Luckily for us, a sale had fallen through so we got the place after it had been fully fitted with an upgraded kitchen and bathrooms and flooring.
“At the time, Bellway had a £12,000 mortgage contribution offer on which was used to reduce the price of the bungalow and an added benefit. James was brilliant throughout the house-buying process. He was very helpful and kept us fully informed every step of the way.”
"We feel very lucky to have found this home but also each other. Life could not be any better."– Martin
The family (including Fred, their eight-year-old Shih Tzu dog) moved into their new home in May 2023.
“We absolutely love our new home,” said Martin. “Having everything on one level is so liberating for us both. There are no stairs to tackle and there seems so much space.
“The space with French doors out to the garden is supposed to be the living/dining room but the kitchen is big enough to get a dining table in there. This frees room in the living area, which is huge and makes it the perfect place to relax and enjoy life.
“The back garden is massive and not overlooked, with a very large grassed area where the children and grandchildren love to run around or kick a ball about. There is a sizeable patio area where we like to spend as much time as we can, depending on the weather.
“In the mornings, we get up and have a coffee while sitting outside on the patio in the sunshine. There is no better way to start the day. We feel very lucky to have found this home but also each other. Life could not be any better.”
We absolutely love our new home... It is like living in the lap of luxury at a five-star hotel."
The customer service throughout our house-buying journey was brilliant."
We stepped inside the property and loved it. It was perfect for us as it had everything we wanted."
This house is perfect for us because it is future proofed... We know we made the right decision."
We had a great experience with Bellway and their customer service was excellent."
I’m in a lovely ground floor apartment... I’m very happy here."
The site team have been brilliant... They will always respond quickly and are on the ball with any queries."
Everything was seamless and transparent and there were no surprises, and the aftercare was phenomenal."
The Scrivener was perfect for us... It will be everything we ever dreamed of."
It’s a dream come true; we come in and feel at home."
I would definitely recommend Bellway to anybody who is looking for a new home."
Bellway’s customer service has been excellent."
Since I’ve moved in, I’ve already recommended Bellway to work colleagues."
Our decision to buy new just felt like the most secure route to take."
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Bellway – in fact I have already done so!"
I would certainly recommend Bellway to anybody."
Katie and I are over the moon with our new home."
I would highly recommend Bellway to anyone."
There is a real sense of community and a friendly feel to the development too."
Bellway completely exceeded our expectations. The aftercare so far has been amazing."
I would definitely recommend buying with Bellway, as my experience overall has been amazing."
I’m very satisfied with my new home and I had a great experience, especially with the Bellway staff."
All you need when it comes to finding your new home