SUSSEX is now officially home to the oldest couple in the world to get married

Guinness has confirmed that George and Doreen Kirby’s combined 194 years and 280 days is a new world record.

The couple were wed in June at the Langham Hotel in Eastbourne, where they live with George’s son Neil, who owns the hotel.

The extraordinary event put the 103 year old groom and his 91 year old bride on the front pages around the world, and they have since been interviewed by Lorraine Kelly on ITV and even met David Cameron.

And nearly five months after being notified of the historic nuptials, the Guinness World Record organisation confirmed that the Kirbys have surpassed the previous record - a combined age of 191 years and 126 days on a wedding day - and have entered the record books.

The newlyweds have been living together for 27 years, residing in the Langham Hotel for the past 18 months.

George’s son, Neil, 63, who owns the hotel with his wife Wendy, said: “I was the one who instigated it – I said to him, ‘It’s about time you made an honest woman of her’.

“It brings Doreen into our family because she is pretty much on her own. She’s very good to my dad and very patient. We’re going to look after her.”

George proposed to Doreen on Valentine’s Day, saying: “Will you marry me for a short while” and the couple tied the knot on George’s 103rd birthday.

Doreen told The Argus: “It was a success and it was nice to see everybody. It couldn’t have been better.

“We did talk about it and thought why bother, but it’s worked out alright.

“I want to thank Neil and Wendy for all they have done for us.

“We are happy here. It’s a nice room on the second floor, so we’re very fortunate.”

George, who spent 25 years working as a physical education coordinator in the RAF, was a keen and talented boxer in his earlier years and won all of the 60 fights he entered during his life.

After leaving the RAF he worked until he was 94: as a chauffeur; managing a restaurant; sterilising instruments at Queen Mary’s Children’s Hospital and finally as a gardener.

Doreen worked for much of her career as a shorthand typist for the Director of Public Prosecutions, typing out documents and court case transcripts, including those of the Kray twins and the Moors murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley.

The wedding was George’s third and Doreen’s second, and between them the couple have seven children, 15 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Neil added: “They are treated like royalty here, and they absolutely deserve it.”