THE family of a lovestruck romantic, who cycled 174 miles twice a month to visit his wartime sweetheart, have paid tribute to the couple by recreating the epic ride.

The grandchildren of Ted Jewitt cycled from Salford to St Mary’s Hospice in Ulverston on Saturday in homage to the fortnightly journey he took in the 1940s to see his future wife Joyce.

Mr Jewitt, of UIverston, met Joyce on a blind date at the Roxy Cinema while Joyce was visiting from her wartime home in Blackpool.

After the Second World War ended, Joyce returned to her hometown of Salford but Mr Jewitt kept their courtship alive by cycling the 87 miles from Cumbria and back to see her every fortnight.

After three years of pedalling, the couple eventually married and enjoyed 65 years as husband and wife before they died just three weeks apart at the end of last year.

The couple had three children and eight grandchildren, three of whom Darren, 38, Daniel, 35, and Dean, 28 were part of a 15 strong team completed the epic trek.

More than £5,000 raised from Saturday’s sponsored ride will go St Mary’s Hospice where Mrs Jewitt received care.

Dean Jewitt said: “The ride went really well, it was a good day all round really.

“It was the longest ride I’ve ever done. It would take some doing if it was twice a month, especially on an old fashioned bike.

“We were using lightweight road bikes, I don’t think they even had gears back then.

“I remember my grandad telling me that during the war they took all the signposts down and you couldn’t ask anyone for directions because it would look suspicious.

“The hospice deserves everything it gets because they did such a great job. Nana was only in there four of five days before she died but that was the most she’d been in months.”

To celebrate their achievement, the team enjoyed a beer specially made by the Ulverston Brewing Company to mark the occasion.

Visit www.justgiving.com/remember/176606/Joyce-Jewitt for more information, or to contribute to the fund.