Biographies
| Eleanor Selley | Natalie Crosland |
Eleanor Selley lives in Exeter, Devon. Her two children aged 22 and 20 are at University and spend time at home in the holidays. Eleanor now has the ‘freedom’ to get away from the kitchen sink and travel and gain new experiences. Eleanor lived in London for 20 years in her late teens and 20s. She worked as an Estate Agent in the heady 80s when one only had to list a house and it sold. She owned and ran a restaurant in Fulham for 6 years which was extremely demanding but great fun. Many friendships were formed and even marriages resulted from evenings in the very sociable restaurant which was more like a club, such was the extent of regular diners. She was fully committed to the business night and day. It is a not a business for the faint hearted. In 2005 Eleanor became increasingly interested in the popularity and acceptability of the online dating world. Being a 50 something was the prompt to get involved in the mature age group. She decided to start a dating site with her sister, co-founder Natalie Crosland in 2008. Eleanor is particularly sympathetic to those who are lonely in their 40s and beyond. She divorced in 2007 and was projected into an unfamiliar world. The attraction of running what is essentially an introduction business greatly appealed. Members on Footloose Dating are having varied experiences from short flings to long term relationships.A few just observe but most dip their toes and take things further. The vast majority are pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to get from joining Footloose Dating to actually meeting up with people. Eleanor says: “it is so rewarding when we hear of couples we have introduced getting together on a permanent basis. This is where the satisfaction of the business lies’. Increasing memberships and positive feedback are very encouraging signs for this very exciting business. email: eleanor@footloosedating.co.uk
phone: 07894 167544
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Natalie Crosland lives half the year in Essex with her husband, and the rest of the year in France where they are renovating an old house. Having spent many years working in London, mainly in the property world, she left London in the early 90s and spent most of the next 10 years sailing in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and USA with her husband. She moved to Essex in the late 90s and started renovating the French property in 2003, once she’d hung up her sailing boots. Having run their own regional dating sites for a couple of years, Natalie and her sister, Eleanor Selley joined forces in the summer of 2008 and started FootlooseDating.co.uk Natalie got married in her early 40s and Eleanor became single in her early 50s, so with both sisters having been single in their 40s and 50s, they have a wealth of personal experience to contribute to their dating site. They realised there was a need for single men and women in their middle years to have a forum where they could make new friends, and maybe even find love for the 2nd, 3rd or more times round, which is why they keep Footloose Dating exclusively for the 40+ singles. When not working on Footloose Dating or helping with building work, Natalie enjoys riding and painting.
email: natalie@footloosedating.co.uk phone: 07775 927754 |
Latest Press Releases
NEWS COPY
SILVER FOXES ARE SEXIEST ………………………………
It’s official – men with grey hair are sexy.
A new study has found that over half of women over the age of 40 prefer their man to have greying locks like George Clooney or Philip Schofield. Dyed hair, however, is a big turn off, with one in three women giving it the thumbs down.
The survey of 2,000 women by mature dating website Footloose Dating aimed to discover the most, and least, attractive physical qualities in a potential partner. The poll reveals that for 54 per cent of women the "silver fox" look is the number one turn-on. Being clean shaven came second, with 22 per cent of women preferring a smooth face to kiss, while having "sparkling" eyes was voted third, with 15 per cent.
Other key physical qualities included well-manicured nails, trim figure and strong – as opposed to double – chin. A pot belly was the biggest turn-off, with 44 per cent prepared to cut short a dinner date if greeted with a bulging stomach. Men with dyed hair left a further 32 per cent of women unimpressed while almost a quarter found bushy beards or eyebrows off-putting. Foul breath, comb-overs and bad teeth also sent shivers down women’s spines. ?
Eleanor Selley, co-founder of www.footloosedating.co.uk, said: "Though many men recoil at the idea of going grey, this survey shows what I’ve believed for a long time: that grey hair is sexy. "It suggests maturity and dignity, a sense of being comfortable with getting older, whereas dyed hair screams the complete opposite.
A pot belly, on the other hand, just says ‘I don’t care about myself at all’. "Looks aren’t everything to the mature woman – companionship is just as important – but they do still count. Thankfully for men, a little grooming will go a long way."
NEWS COPY – WITH PICTURES
Forget Tom Jones, meet Hugeremy Claurie – the latest over-40s pin-up.
The 6ft 3in bearded 'hunk' has been voted the ideal man in a survey of middle-aged women.
He is said to possess the most attractive features of all male celebrities including "piercing" blue eyes, "kissable" thin lips and "sexy stubble".
But on closer inspection, the greying 51-year-old may appear rather familiar…
In fact, Hugeremy isn't even a real man – he's a digital mix of actor and comedian Hugh Laurie, 52, and Top Gear frontman Jeremy Clarkson, 51.
Experts combined the blue eyes, forehead, mouth and trademark designer stubble of Laurie, with the ears, nose, bushy eyebrows and greying hair of Clarkson.
The result is the ultimate virtual heartthrob, according to a poll of 1,000 single women by mature dating sitewww.footloosedating.co.uk.
Its members said Hugeremy would be a "dream date with good looks, a big personality – and plenty of cash under the bed".
Site co-founder Eleanor Selley said: "Hugeremy has all the characteristics of the ideal man. He's tall, handsome and clever, and has bags of sex appeal to boot.
"Both men are attractive in their own right, but the idea of rolling the two of them into one sexy package is more than enough to raise a pulse."
Site members aged between 40 and 65 were given a list of 10 "charming but not necessarily beautiful" middle-aged male celebrities and asked to pick the two celebrities they would most like to date.
The list included BBC news anchor Huw Edwards, broadcasters Phillip Schofield and Chris Evans, racing pundit John McCririck, chef Antony Worrall Thompson, comedian Hugh Laurie, journalist Ian Hislop, Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, singer Mick Hucknall, and Dragon's Den star Theo Paphitis.
Edwards and Schofield picked up six and seven per cent of the vote respectively, primarily for their "lovely personalities". Radio 2 DJ Evans, and entrepreneur Paphitis, took nine and 10 per cent of the vote – primarily because of their "millions".
Only four per cent picked Worrall Thompson for his skills in the kitchen.
Unsurprisingly, McCririck's trademark side-burns put off virtually all members. Only two per cent picked him as their ideal man.
Simply Red frontman Hucknall fared little better. He was chosen by just eight per cent because of his "silly" red locks and diamond-encrusted front tooth.
Meanwhile, some five per cent were attracted to Hislop's "cheeky smile" and "quick wit".
But both Clarkson and Laurie were clear favourites, scooping 24 and 25 per cent of the votes respectively.
Respondents listed Clarkson's height – he is 6ft 5ins – and Laurie's "chiselled chin" among their best attributes.
Eleanor Selley, of FootlooseDating, said: "Hugeremy Claurie is the combination of these two men. To put it simply, men will want to be him, and women want to be with him."
ENDS
NEWS COPY
As featured in 'Prima Magazine', 2009
After her divorce, Eleanor Selley, 53, from Exeter, set up a dating website with her sister Natalie Crosland, 55.
'Like many women my age, I've had a variety of jobs - working as an estate agent, running a bistro for eight yeras, then taking a career break to bring up my children, Harry, now 20, and Olivia, 17. In 2003 I emigrated with my husband and children to New Zealand, where I ran a garden centre for two years. But back in the UK, and newly divorced, I became convinced I Was unemployable without the right skills to slot into an office.
I had no pension and not many years left to build up a nest egg. In my newly single state, I also started looking at online dating sites. I wanted to meet nice people for romance and friendship, but found a lot sites were rather seedy and nor ideal for someone of my age.
I became convinced a dating site could be a great business opportunity. Unlike a traditional start-up with premises, there are very few costs - simply employing a web designer and funding some online advertising.
I'm close to my sister Natalie, who is semi-retired, and when I suggested I went into business together she jumped at the oppportunity.
Even in dire financial times, people are still going to be looking for romance! After a brainstorming session we hit upon a name - www.footloosedating.co.uk - aimed at those footloose and fancy-free 40-plus people like me.
The site went live in June 2008 and within a week, we had our first fully paid-up member. We charge £14.95 for a month's membership, and £23.95 for three months. Now there are over 500 members and we're expanding every day. I hope that in time I'll be able to take a proper income and save for my future. When we were setting the site up, we were putting in ten-hour days, but now I only need to work a couple of hours a day. I love being able to work whenever, whereever, as long as I have my laptop with me.
When I tell people I run a dating site, they are always fascinated. I've been on a couple of dates with nice men I've met through the site, and I'm enjoying being single again. I'm so glad I didn't sit around moping after my divorce but did something completely new and interesting.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- Footloose Dating was founded in 2008
- Footloose Dating members can contact a database of over 2 million active members
- Footloose Dating this year partnered with Footloose The Musical and gave away 12 pairs of tickets to the musical
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