25 years on ‘tricked’ groom is still in love
ABRIDE-TO-BE who ‘tricked’ her oblivious groom into turning up to their wedding is celebrating her silver anniversary with him.
Kim and Neil Scott were married in a ceremony at Heaton Moor United Reformed Church in 1990.
Neil had been told it was his mate’s nuptials and that he was best man and the story made the front page of the Stockport Express at the time.
But the unusual approach worked and the couple, who now live in Offerton, are still in love 25 years later.
Kim, 57, said: “I remember feeling like a princess but thinking it was going to be a big shock for Neil when he arrived.
“It was quite risky and I was even more nervous than a bride would be normally, but he had already asked me to marry him and I knew we were soul mates.
“Keeping a secret like that was a one-off, there has been no secrets between us since. I wish we could do it all again, people still talk about the day.
“You have to be friends and talk things through when times are hard, we were just meant to be.”
The couple first met in the disco at Cobden’s, on Wellington Road South, five years earlier.
A reception took place at Our Lady’s Social Club, in Shaw Heath, and their first meal as a married couple the next day was at McDonald’s – because everywhere else was shut on a Sunday.
They have two children and Kim has two from a previous relationship, 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
She still has a job as a telephone receptionist for Metro Taxis and Neil, 52, worked as a caretaker until taking early retirement on medical grounds.
The anniversary was on Tuesday (June 30) and the couple will celebrate at home with a few friends at the weekend.
They may also recreate their first meal and visit McDonald’s, eating their burgers in what is now the Decathlon car park overlooking the M60 just as they did 25 years ago.
Neil said: “I was very shocked, I was supposed to be the best man but immediately said ‘yes’, we were very much in love and still are. I remember it like it was last week, Kim looked lovely in her wedding dress.
“Normally it’s me who is the joker and playing pranks but she got one on me 25 years ago!”