Canal couple tie up in Llan to tie knot

* Ian and Sue hand over the charity donations from their

wedding gift cash to Llangollen town crier Austin Cheminais.

A COUPLE of narrowboat enthusiasts who met on the canal in Llangollen decided to return to the town to get spliced.

Sue and Ian Goodwin were married at St Collen’s Church last Saturday and handed over £120 of their wedding gift cash to Austin Cheminais, Llangollen’s town crier, to pass on to the North Wales Air Ambulance.

They also donated money to Llangollen’s Prostrate Cancer Support Group and Samaritans Liverpool.

Ian, known locally as `Spadger’ which is also the name of his narrowboat,  has been spending the winter in Llangollen for over 10 years.

A few years ago he lost his wife to illness whilst moored at Llangollen wharf, but continued to return each winter.

Sue, a fellow narrowboater,  also lost her husband to illness.

“It’s hard to explain, but us both losing our partners is one of the things that bought me and Ian together,”  said Sue.

Ian and Sue met whilst moored in town a couple of years ago, fell in love and decided to get married.

Added Sue: “We were overjoyed to be able to get married in Llangollen.  We had so much support and help from local people with our wedding.

“We shopped in Llangollen to support local business, used the Town Hall for our reception and booked around 30 hotel rooms. Our thanks go to everybody who helped make our day special.”

Ian said: “We travel all over the UK in our narrowboat but Llangollen is truly special and we will continue to return here each winter.

“We look forward to November when we know will get a warm welcome as we renew old friendships and once again become part of a great community.”

The newlyweds, who live on their narrowboat,  have just left Llangollen heading for the Shropshire Union Canal.

They plan to travel all summer on their boat and will return to Llangollen in November to spend the winter.