GUARDIAN ROSE: Brian surprises Liz on 40th wedding anniversary

When one Worksop man set out to go to the races in 1975, the last thing he expected was to meet his wife and soul mate in a pub on the way home.
Brian Houghton pictured with his wife Elizabeth, who received the Guardian Rose..
Brian nominated his wife for the Rose, to celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary.                                                                                               Brian says they are inseperable and very happy together.
Elizabeth told the Guardian "I,m Gobsmacked" after being surprised with the award.Brian Houghton pictured with his wife Elizabeth, who received the Guardian Rose..
Brian nominated his wife for the Rose, to celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary.                                                                                               Brian says they are inseperable and very happy together.
Elizabeth told the Guardian "I,m Gobsmacked" after being surprised with the award.
Brian Houghton pictured with his wife Elizabeth, who received the Guardian Rose.. Brian nominated his wife for the Rose, to celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary. Brian says they are inseperable and very happy together. Elizabeth told the Guardian "I,m Gobsmacked" after being surprised with the award.

Brian Houghton, 63, who has lived in the town all his life, headed to the races at York 40 years ago on July 25, with the intention of backing some horses to win himself some free money.

But on his way back, he met Elizabeth, 61, in a pub in Doncaster, and Brian still can’t believe she took a gamble on him.

“I had just lost my father three weeks before so I am not sure what would have happened if I had not met Elizabeth,” Brian told the Guardian.

“We must have meant to have been together.”

The former maintenance worker at Bassetlaw Hospital, who is now retired, returned to the pub the next day, and he never looked back.

“I went back the following evening and she came to Worksop with me and stayed for a week,” Brian said.

Ten weeks later, on October 4, the couple got married at Worksop Registry Office on Potter Street.

The pair, who live on Kipling Close, have two sons - David, 36 and Richard, 37 and three grandsons - Sam, seven, Ethan, five and Elliot who is 18-months-old.

Brian said: “We have had ups and down but we have always come through it.”

On their 40th anniversary, Brian treated Elizabeth, who used to work at Cinch Connectors in Worksop, by taking her out shopping in the morning and then they went for a meal in the evening.

And there was one more special treat, as he surprised her with a Guardian Rose - from the Walkers House of Flowers in the Priory Shopping Centre.

“We got some lovely cards and a nice cake, it was perfect,” Brian added.

“She was cleaning in the back and she came in and was very surprised.

The husband and wife say they enjoy gardening and going on holiday together.

“We would like to go away before Christmas if we can,” he said.

“We are very lucky.”