A security officer who bought his wife a smoothing iron on Valentine’s Day has inspired a search for North East Wales’s most unromantic couple.
Bosses at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham where Ian Bostock and his better half, Julia, work are now organising a competition and providing a dream date for the winners.
They want to hear from anyone in Denbighshire, Wrexham and Flintshire who has been on the receiving end of something even less likely than an iron to light their fires.
As the countdown begins to the February 14 celebration of love, the region’s top shopping destination aims to put some of the romance back into the lives of those who have put pragmatism before passion.
They’ve come up with a fantastic package of Valentine’s Day gifts for the winners including a gorgeous Clogau Cariad pendant worth £239 from jewellers Mococo, a makeover worth £50 at the Gozo hair and beauty salon, a romantic three course meal for two at Pizza Express and two tickets for the Odeon cinema at Eagles Meadow.
That should put the romance back for even the most jaded couple but that definitely doesn’t apply to the shopping centre’s own first couple, Ian and Julia, for whom friendship blossomed into something more serious at the mall seven years ago.
That electric iron did spark something though: “I told him if he did anything like that again it was game over,” said Julia who added that Ian, one of the security team at Eagles Meadow, would need some protection himself if it happened again.
The two were just good friends until Julia came to work as a cleaner at Eagles Meadow seven years ago where Ian was already part of the security team and love bloomed among the aisles.
Four years on from when they took their marriage vows and the champagne corks popped for them at a special celebration arranged for them by colleagues at Eagles Meadow, the couple are still very much in love.
Ian said: “I did get Julia an iron and I’ve bought her kitchen utensils as well in the past but she had said she needed them – and I have given her flowers and chocolates as well.”
Julia said: “He is very good really but I did have to tell him about the iron and I have had a kettle before but that was for Christmas.
“He is very romantic though and he does buy me bouquets of flowers and boxes of chocolates but I have noticed the Valentine’s cards have been getting smaller lately.”
Ian added: “I haven’t really thought what to buy Julia this Valentine’s Day but I can guarantee it won’t be anything to do with housework.”
Kevin Critchley, Manager of Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre, said: “Ian and Julia are a lovely couple and we were delighted to be able to help out with their wedding especially after their initial reception venue went bust and they had to cancel.
“But we’d like to inspire a bit more romance as well and so we want to hear about the worst Valentine’s Day presents ever, the ironing boards, the vacuum cleaners, maybe even a mop and bucket.
“Hopefully we can help make up for that with a wonderfully romantic package and who wouldn’t want to give or receive a fabulous Clogau pendant.”
Russell Hooson, the manager of Mococo, said: “We were delighted to be able of offer this beautiful double-sided Cariad pendant which features a sterling silver heart and 9ct rose gold bail.”
“It’s the perfect gift to melt the most unromantic of hearts and turn the day out into a truly dream date.”
Eagles Meadow want to hear about the region’s most unromantic Valentine’s Day gifts. To be in with a chance to spice up your lives and to be featured in a story, please send an email to [email protected] and remember to include your names, details of the unromantic present, your address and a telephone number.
