In the 1960s, Marilyn Hewish and Dean bonded over stars, shells and science fiction movies. She didn’t expect declarations of love – then he returned from a trip away

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Dean and I met in 1967 at the University of Adelaide when we were 18 years old and in the second year of our science degrees. We worked back to back in the biochemistry laboratory. I soon discovered to my delight that he was on top of the subject and could answer my questions. I remember thinking: “This man is smart, and useful.” Soon I would “accidentally” come across him at the cafeteria, library and bookshop. Eventually he asked me out but we only dated for a few months. There was no drama. We drifted apart. He told me later he found me too frivolous; I found him too serious.

Fast forward two years and we were both studying for our honours. We began running into each other late at night in the library and we fell back into comfortable conversation. My mother noticed that he was being mentioned more often and invited him to my 21st birthday party. He looked so handsome at the door holding a big bunch of flowers, and got on so easily with my friends. As he climbed into his car to leave, he asked me out to the movies.