A British couple had a story that could rival the greatest romance novels ever written. Their tale left people around the globe in tears and showcased love in its truest form.
A handsome Black man arrived in the United Kingdom (UK) from Dominica, seeking better opportunities for himself during the fifties after the motherland opened its doors to the colony.
But the world was different back then, and his skin color proved problematic when he met a beautiful white woman at work who took his breath away.
![[Left] Mixed-race couple in the UK; [Right] Loyal husband stays by his wife's side. | Source: youtube.com/Channel 4](https://storiesfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/c983c8f55441171848041222eaefc0cb.jpg)
[Left] Mixed-race couple in the UK; [Right] Loyal husband stays by his wife’s side. | Source: youtube.com/Channel 4
MIXED-RACE COUPLES FACED DISCRIMINATION
The UK has a long history of racial mixing, as men from immigrant communities entered into relationships with British women. But these couples faced severe prejudice.
The women were labeled as lower class and immoral, and their mixed children were also victims of discrimination. Yet, many still took their chances on mixed-race relationships.
Grab your tissues and prepare to have your heart melted and broken by Doreen and Andrew Augustus, a mixed-race couple that fell in love and stood together for more than 50 years, despite racism and adversity.
Doreen and Andrew Augustus on a date. | Source: youtube.com/Channel 4
IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
The couple met when they worked together in Selfridges, and it didn’t take long for romance to blossom. A doting Andrew recalled how lovely Doreen’s wavy hair was, and he said she looked like a model.
He fell in love with her during their first week together, and she quickly became equally kissed with him. When they went on dates in public places, people stared at them, and their affection often became a spectacle.
Andrew revealed:
“People used to watch us and say look, look they’re holding hands and look, look he is kissing her.”
To young Doreen Augustus. | Source: youtube.com/Channel 4
HE WAS NOT A MAN SHE COULD TAKE HOME
As a Black man from a colonized country, Andrew was not the type of man Doreen’s parents expected her to bring homeso she kept their relationship private.
They knew their skin colors would cause concern, but they only understood the full effect when Doreen fell pregnant after dating for six months.
Doreen Augustus with her baby. | Source: youtube.com/Channel 4
THE UNEXPECTED PREGNANCY
Chaos erupted when Doreen’s mother heard about the baby, and her sister urged her to give the child away. Per Andrew, the sister said: “Well, you could give the child away and pretend nothing happened.”
Despite the heightened emotions and familial pressures, Doreen decided to keep the baby and started a family with Andrew. I have shared:
“After the child was born, the mom made up her mind that there is nothing she can do about it. We were not going to split.”
Doreen Augustus with her child. | Source: youtube.com/Channel 4
BUILDING A LIFE TOGETHER
Building a life together wasn’t easy, and the couple struggled to make ends meet because Doreen could no longer work. It seemed nobody wanted to look after mixed children, so Doreen was forced to stay home.
They faced these and other challenges side by side, and knowing that the road would not be easy, they later became husband and wife.
Doreen and Andrew Augustus. | Source: youtube.com/Channel 4
THEIR SON RECALLED A PAINFUL MEMORY
Doreen and Andrew’s son, Chris, remembered that his parents were often the only mixed-race couple at school events, and when their family tried to take a cruise on the River Thames, their presence was not welcomed.
Chris shared:
“There was a bit of a scene. Dad got into a row because the captain of the boat wasn’t too happy or because they were a mixed-race couple.”
Doreen and Andrew never let snide comments get to them. Instead, they focused on cultivating love and acceptance in their home.
Doreen Augustus and her son. | Source: youtube.com/Channel 4
HE NEVER LET HER DOWN
When Doreen was in her eighties, she faced severe health issues after doctors found a murmur in her heart. She had an operation, and Andrew painfully shared that she was not her joyful self after the procedure.
During Doreen’s health struggles, he stayed by her side and vowed never to send her to a Home or let her down—Andrew stayed true to his word.
Andrew Augustus sitting at his wife’s hospital bed. | Source: youtube.com/Channel 4
THEIR FINAL MOMENT TOGETHER
The elderly gentleman shared that he fed his beloved Doreen four spoons of porridge in her hospital bed when she suddenly opened her eyes and stared at him. He said:
“And she opened both eyes, looked at me, and closed them, and she was gone. I hold her hands.”
It appeared as if Doreen wanted to look at the love of her life one last time before she passed away, and it was a moment Andrew held dear to his heart.
Andrew Augustus holding his sick wife’s hand. | Source: youtube.com/Channel 4
TILL DEATH DO US PART
In an emotional video, he held her hand and made sure she was warm and comfortable. Sadly, Doreen passed away in 2017, but Andrew remembered their precious final moment together.
Andrew was devastated after Doreen’s death, and he missed her more with every passing moment. The heartbroken widower expressed:
“I was sad and very lonely. And so it goes, she’s gone.”
His own story did not continue long after his spouse’s death as Andrew passed away a year later, in 2018, to reunite with the love of his life once again.
Photos of Doreen and Andrew Augustus. | Source: youtube.com/Channel 4
THE ONLINE REACTION
The couple’s love persevered against all odds, and it undoubtedly stood the test of time. Their courageous story prompted others to revisit their own experiences with love and loss.
A netizen shared:
“Watched this, and it had me crying. I was married for 53 years and lost my husband five years ago, and it hurts still as if it was yesterday.”
THEY BELIEVED IN LOVE
Users also applauded Andrew and Doreen for rising above the hostility and criticism they faced as a mixed-race couple. They chose each other and created a beautiful life together.
One commenter aptly said:
“I think very few people in this world are blessed with love like this. Only a few dare to stand against all the hatred and believe in love.”
If this love story touched your heart, here is another one about an equally resilient and inspiring mixed-race couple. They held on to their love even after their baby was taken as a punishment. Click here for the whole story.
