Love is in the air for romantic couple

Aug 28 2008 by Judith Phillips, North Wales Weekly News

Love is in the air

WHEN Janet and John Ball got married 25 years ago they could only afford a register office wedding and a reception at their local pub.

So John decided to make their silver wedding anniversary last Wednesday a day to remember for Janet.

Without her knowledge he booked a plane to fly over Llandudno towing a banner reading “I Love You Janet Ball”.

Janet, 46, who runs the Glascoed Hotel in Chapel Street with John, was taken completely by surprise.

“I said ‘Oh God, you daft devil!’ I was in total shock. I thought romance was dead but it isn’t,” she said.

John, 52, also arranged for an open topped vintage car to take him and Janet to a blessing ceremony at the ancient St Tudno Hotel on the Great Orme, and a 1959 open top bus to help ferry the 80 guests to the reception at Bodafon Farm Park in Craig-y-Don.

“When we got married we couldn’t afford a big white wedding. The ceremony was at the register office in Stourbridge in the Midlands and we had a reception at the local pub. For our honeymoon we went to stay with friends at Catterick Army camp in Yorkshire.

“I wanted to make it up to Janet. This time she wore a white dress and we had a great time. We parked the bus on the prom on the way to Bodafon Farm Park and the plane towing the banner flew over our heads. Janet’s face was a picture,” he smiled.

And the couple’s four children Jenny, 23, Katie, 19, and twins John and Charlotte, 15, helped to make a special occasion by ensuring they had a romantic second honeymoon.

“They paid for us to go to Vienna for a few days which was fantastic,” said John.

judith.phillips