Decorator Ken Perrott wrote a love note on a wall before covering it in 1960 and it’s been seen by his widow Val for this first time (Picture: Devon Live/BPM)
A love note penned by a decorator 64 years ago and hidden behind wallpaper has been read by the man’s heartbroken widow for the first time.
Ken Perrott wrote the touching tribute on the wall of a home he was working on in Exeter, Devon, in 1960 after becoming engaged to his future wife, Val.
He papered over the note and it lay hidden for years until the current owners of the property recently uncovered it.
They had been redecorating the spare room to turn it into a nursery for their first child when they came saw the writing.
On the wall he’s written his name and address, as well as Val’s – then known by her maiden name Rose – while underneath he’s drawn a love heart with their names and the words ‘married March 1961’.
It is signed as ‘papered by Ken Perrott’ and dated August 1960.
Keen to trace the people mentioned on the wall, the owners posted a picture of the writing on Facebook page Exeter Memories.
Ken and Val Perrott in their younger years (Picture: DevonLive/BPM)
It was seen by Ken and Val’s granddaughter and shown to Val, who lost the love of her life when Ken died in 1996 at the age of only 56.
Ken was a decorator all his working life and founded Exeter Decorating Company.
The firm has since been renamed Isca Decorating Company and is run by his son Adrian and grandson Lee.
Ken met Val at a dance at the Regal in Exmouth in 1959 when he was 21 .
The couple’s daughter, Nicola Perrott, said: ‘My mum was dating someone else at the time but my dad swept her off her feet.
‘He was a bit of a jack-the-lad, had a motorbike and was a bit daring. They were engaged within months and married in 1961.
‘They would still be married if he had not passed away. My mum has never been in any other relationship other than with my dad.’
Ken’s note written on a wall at a home in Exeter he decorated in 1960 (Picture: Devon Live/BPM)
Nicola said her mum plays golf three times a week and has a great social life but still really misses Ken.
She added: ‘When my mum saw the uncovered love note she was very emotional and cried. She said that my dad truly, truly loved her. They had a really, really good marriage and were very good role models for me and my brother.
‘The puzzling bit of the message was it was dated August 1960 but said they married in March 1961. We think he wrote it knowing they were going to get married the following year.
‘She had never known he had written anything about her but said in the houses where they lived together he would always put theirs and our names on the walls when he decorated. Who knows how many other houses he did it at?
Val and Ken in later years (Picture: Devon Live/BPM)
‘On the Facebook post, so many people in Exeter have been so kind and have shared memories of my dad. It has been wonderful and has brought back so many happy memories.’
Among the comments posted, one person wrote: ‘Aww, what a lovely story. Obviously true love. I’m so sorry you lost your dad so young but I’m sure he’s looking down and smiling at this.
‘I’m so pleased for you that you all got to see this. Imagine if it had stayed covered. I think the universe conspired to make sure it was revealed.
Another said: ‘I spotted it was them from the signatures. What a handsome couple Ken and Val were and great dancers at the club!’
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