A couple who met in Southport Market four decades ago are looking forward to celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary there when it reopens.
Paula and John Garlick were both working in the market in the early 1980s when they became close.
The building is currently in the process of being transformed by Sefton Council into an exciting new food, drink and events hub. The new attraction is due to open this Spring.
Under the Government’s roadmap out of the national lockdown, all Covid-19 restrictions are due to be ended from 21 June – the day that Paula and John celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary.
They can’t wait to call into their favourite place, Southport Market, so that they can celebrate in style.
Paula said: “My husband and I met in the market 39 years ago when we both worked there.
“It’s a special place for us. I can’t wait for us to be able to eat and drink here for our celebrations.”
Paula looks back fondly on the days when the couple first set eyes on each other.
She said: “It was September 1982 when we met. My friend had a Saturday job in the sweet stall, which was run at the time by Bob Ellis. I used to go in at lunchtime and cover Bob’s lunch for £1, it often worked out that I offered to work the rest of the Saturday.
“John worked at the small butchers stall next to the side door that was run by Tony Jackson. I was, and still am a vegetarian. At the time I was idealistic, so it took a lot of soul searching for me to be interested in a butcher, but it turns out you can’t help who you are attracted to.
“When working I would move all the popular sweets, like aniseed balls, to the side of the stall so that when I could see John when I served them.
“As both John and I were very shy Bob worked as matchmaker and we eventually set up a date, as we thought, without Bob knowing. We went to see Rocky 3 at the Classic Cinema on 29 September 1982.
“Back in the market the next day, everybody knew that John had been on a date with me, and we were both confused as to how. It turned out that when we got on the bus we saw a lady, June, who worked in the corner near the front of the market.
“As it turned out, June and Bob had also been on their first date too that evening, so she had told Bob she had seen us together.
“Not long after we met, Tony Jackson closed his stall so John went to work at the Royal Clifton Hotel in Southport, firstly as a hall porter then as a cellarman. Later he became a postman for about 20 years, then we ran our own business for a while and now he is employed in grounds and maintenance. I had a secretarial and administration career up until 2019, when I gave it all up and went to university. I’m now in my second year studying a Psychology degree at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk.
“I was 15 at the time we met, and John was 18. We married on 21 June, 1986; this was coincidently Bob Ellis’s birthday. We chose it because it was the longest day and my Nan’s birthday. I was 19 and John had just turned 22. We had our first child Rebecca in October 1990 and our second child Ben in May 1993.
“Still, after all these years we are very much in love and our marriage and family have been very happy.
“The market holds a special place in our hearts as we wouldn’t have met without it. Over the years and the revamps, we have often gone back to reminisce.
“I love the changes they have planned there. I’m hoping it will be something like the Baltic Market or Duke Street Market in Liverpool.
“It will be our 35th wedding anniversary this year, and if restrictions and refurbishment allow it, it will be wonderful to go back and sit down with friends and family to celebrate our past and our future.”
The Southport Market development will see 10 new food units and a feature bar installed.
This will be supported by a flexible events space able to host high-quality markets along with other events.
Blackhurst Butchers, which has been in Southport Market for nearly half a century, has recently moved into its new home in a new unit right at the front of the building and remains open as building work continues.
Read More: Blackhurst Butchers delighted to move into new home at front of Southport Market
Once complete it is hoped that the market will spark the regeneration of the ‘Market Quarter’, bringing more customers to businesses on Market Street, King Street and Princes Street.
A total of £900,000 in Southport Town Deal funding in addition to £500,000 from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is supporting the scheme.
Paula would love to know any details about Bob and June.
She said: “Whilst ours is quite a sweet tale of young love, I think Bob and June’s story is probably much more romantic and another success story for the market.
“At the time we considered Bob and June to be ‘really old’ but realistically they were probably in their 40s.
“When I was volunteering at the sweet stall, Bob used to spend that time flirting with June.
“They had their first date on the same day we did, they married about six months later, we got to go to the reception.
“Sadly, we lost touch with them, but have seen them around a few times over the years, always holding hands. They remained married and at one stage lived on The Green in Ainsdale. The last we knew of them was about 20 years ago, working and living at the Stanley Club in Burscough.”
Do you have any stories for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
