SCOTT Rotheram was on 'cloud nine' after his partner of 16 years Gillian Holliday sprang a double surprise.

When he arrived home in Mallard Drive, Horwich, after a fantastic day out at his beloved Liverpool Football Club, Gill greeted him with the news that they were going to be married the next day.

And she had also arranged for him to fulfil his ambition of flying an aircraft.

The childhood sweethearts married in a secret ceremony at Kendal at the weekend.

It was witnessed by just two friends - the only people who knew of the plans.

The couple's families including their three young children, were kept in the dark and found out only the following day when Gill sent flowers and cards to parents, grandmother, brothers and sisters telling them the marriage had taken place.

Gill said: "I had been planning it for about three months and chose that day because Liverpool were not playing. Scott had no idea." Last Thursday, Scott, a sales manager had lunched at Liverpool FC, where he had organised FA Cup Final tickets for himself and son Jack, aged seven, and intended telling Gill all about it. Instead she stole his thunder by breaking the news of the flying lesson and handed him a card full of confetti which said 'To My Husband'. "I was absolutely gob-smacked," said Scott.

The couple, both aged 32, attended Rivington and Blackrod High School together and were in the same class throughout school. Scott added: "We've talked about getting married on and off over the last 16 years but every time we plan to, something happened such as moving house or having children."

After their wedding, the couple enjoyed a meal in a local restaurant and then drove to Teeside where they spent the weekend at a hotel. On the Saturday Scott had his flying lesson in a four seater plane and flew over the North-east coast with Gill as his passenger.

The weekend was completed with a visit to Newcastle and St James Park on the Sunday. When the couple arrived back home it had been decorated with streamers and balloons.

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