How this Lisburn couple found love in the aisles at their local M&S

Robert and Allison Heasley fell in love in M&S Lisburn over 30 years ago
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


Marks & Spencer have celebrated the love of two Northern Ireland employees who met and found love in their aisles over 30 years ago.

Robert, 56, and 58-year-old Allison Heasley from Lisburn fell in love in M&S at Sprucefield. The then Allison Beatty spotted a newspaper clipping of Robert 31-years-ago in the warehouse.

Robert was a semi-professional golfer and when he had done well on the course, his colleagues stuck paper cuttings on the staff notice board. Allison spied him and liked what she saw! After that Allison says she always made excuses to go to the warehouse and hopefully to catch Robert’s eye.

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The plan worked, a relationship blossomed and after a whirlwind romance Allison asked Robert to marry her! The couple have now been married for just over 30 years.

Allison and Robert are still very much in love and recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with a romantic trip to the Greek island Symi. They have two lovely children - 28-year-old Amber, Conor, 24, a grandson Abel, 7, and not forgetting Floakie, the sprocker pup.

Robert and Allison got married in St Lucia in October 1994
Robert and Allison got married in St Lucia in October 1994

Allison told Belfast Live: "We met 31 years ago in work. We got engaged five months later and married in St Lucia nine months after our engagement on October 11 1994.

"A photograph of Robert was on the staff notice board winning a golf tournament and I thought he was gorgeous and looked like a movie star with dark hair and a tan. He always took part in the amateur championships around Ireland and got time off to play in them with wee clippings on the board if he'd done well.

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"So after that I was always looking for excuses to go into the warehouse looking for him and obviously some stock to bring out, hoping to catch a glimpse of him and his eye and that he would notice me too. It worked and five months later I asked him to marry me!

"We're opposites and opposites attract. I'm very lively and outgoing whereas Robert is quiet and shy and never gets a word in. We always bounce off each other and that seems to work. I'd be the bossy one too and get my own way anyway. His favourite saying to friends is 'when Allison leaves the house, I think I've went deaf!'

"We have our ups and downs and sometimes I could kill him but we're still going strong and have great fun!"

Allison and Robert recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with a romantic trip to the Greek island Symi
Allison and Robert recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with a romantic trip to the Greek island Symi

So what about living and working together? "Robert has been working in the M&S warehouse at Sprucefield for 32 years and I'm going into my 36th year now as a sales assistant in ladies fashions. We are very happy at M&S and we're both very happy to still be there. I'm lucky I can say that and they certainly have a lot to answer for!

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"We're usually both working together on a Friday as Robert does the early mornings and I'm there during the day and evenings," Allison added.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, Allison says they're still big romantics at heart: "Oh yes Robert's still very romantic and thoughtful. I'll be so happy to get the flowers, chocolate and champagne and I'll treat and spoil him with presents too."

And Allison revealed their secret to a long and happy relationship: "Always learn to laugh at every situation and you'll get through it."

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