Staff at the Haskins Garden Centre at Longham gave two of their colleagues an appropriate send off as they took time off to get married.

Linda Barlow and Ivan Gill from Bearwood first met when Ivan started work at the centre as goods in driver three years ago.  Linda, who has been a plants assistant at the centre for more than 13 years, found that their interest in gardening and horticulture became the start of a strong relationship. When Ivan proposed to her on one knee on Poole Quay, she immediately said yes.

The wedding was held in Kidderminster Register Office, close to Ivan’s family on Friday 6 Sept, when they were joined by some of their colleagues for an informal reception. Before they left for Kidderminster, Haskins’ chef de partie Tanya Judd presented a wedding cake as a wedding gift from the company, and general manager Simon Morris and team members created a ceremonial arch with garden forks and spades in honour of the couple.

“We wish Linda and Ivan a very happy life together and we are delighted that they will both continue to be a valued part of our team,” said Simon Morris.

Caption: (from left) Tanya Judd presents the wedding cake to Linda and Ivan with the guard of honour.