Elderly man finds 'mystery woman' from Paris bus

Jean-Pierre Meston, who was born on May 6, 1933, started talking to the woman - who he called “une jolie dame (a pretty lady)” - on the number 46 bus in Paris this week.

During their conversation, the two realised they had much in common - including the woman having been born exactly one month earlier, on April 6, 1933; and the fact that both had survived cancer.

But, despite their connection, Mr Meston regretted not asking for the woman’s address or telephone number before getting off the bus. He blamed having “fallen under the charms” of the woman for what he called his “idiot” behaviour.

In a bid to find the woman, he wrote a handwritten letter and photocopied it 25 times, sticking it up nearby and placing it in local shop windows - and putting it back up each time street cleaners took it down.

He said that this was “the only way to find her” as he “does not touch the Internet at all”.

But one of the letters was then photographed and shared - without personal details - by a kindly user on Twitter, Gaëlle Copienne. She wrote: “I am sharing this, without his full name and mobile number, to avoid bad jokes. If you recognise this person, please contact me!”.

The letter was also shared by newspaper Le Parisien.

Pour que Jean-Pierre retrouve sa belle inconnue du bus 46, qui vit vers #Reuillydiderot. Je repartage, sans son nom complet et n. de portable pour éviter les mauvaises blagues. Si jamais vous reconnaissez cette personne contactez moi, merci ! #love #amourtoujours #paris12 #paris pic.twitter.com/b2ra9XE3HW

— Gaëlle Copienne (@gcopienne) August 24, 2019

A Parisian genealogist saw the letter, and helped to identify the mystery woman just five days after the initial meeting.

Speaking to Le Parisien, Mr Meston said: “I am on cloud nine! The genealogist explained that she had access to many files, such as from the Mairie, and death certificates. By searching by birth date, she found two results: a man and a woman.

"She started looking before even telling me, and then called me yesterday to tell me the good news.”

Having found his paramour, Mr Meston contacted the woman, and they made plans to meet again. "She seemed happy [on the phone]," he said.

Mr Meston thanked everyone who had helped, and said: “I really put my heart into finding her again. When we saw each other from afar, she had a big smile, and so did I. Her face is as adorable. I am still under the charms of this woman, it was magical.”