The Marriage Bureau:True Stories From London Matchmakers

Before dating websites and apps searched for happily-ever-after's, singles looking for 'the one' knew that real life matchmakers could be their best chance at finding love. This goes back to the 1940's when matchmaking businesses started to pop up. Today's guest, Penrose Halson, is the author of The Marriage Bureau: The True Story of How Two Matchmakers Arranged Love in Wartime London. In 1939, with WWII looming, Heather Jenner and Mary Oliver opened a marriage bureau. From shop girls to debutantes, widowers to war veterans, clients came in search of security, social acceptance or simply love. And most found what they were looking for. Fast forward 50 years to 1992 when Penrose Halson and her husband Bill were asked to take over running the Marriage Bureau. They continued to play cupid until 2000, and are still in touch with clients who make up the Bureau’s legacy. From London, Penrose shares heartwarming stories of the quest for love. Matchmakers are still better than apps any day!