Wedding bells for blind-date couple

TYING the knot . . . Debbie Powell and Paul Quinn

‘I knew when we first spoke Paul was right for me’

WEDDING bells are ringing for a competition winner who won a blind date and found a fiancé.

Debbie Powell (49), from Fitton Hill, entered the Oldham Coliseum competition in 2006 — which was featured in the Oldham Chronicle — to find the singleton most deserving of a second chance at romance.

Her prize was a blind date with Paul Quinn (41), from Droylsden, who was selected as her perfect match.

The couple are now planning to marry on October 16 at St Paul’s Church, Ashton Road, the same date and venue as her parents’ — Terry and Margaret Hulley — wedding 50 years ago.

But the blind date that was meant to bring them together never happened as family commitments meant Paul could not attend. Instead, he left his phone number with Coliseum staff, who encouraged Debbie to ring.

A quick text led to two months of courting over the phone before the pair finally met face to face and love blossomed.

Two years ago, she proposed to the civil servant on the unofficial fans’ forum of his other passion — Droylsden Football Club.

She said: “I was really pleased I’d won the competition and definitely got first prize when I met Paul.

“I knew when we first spoke on the phone he was right for me. He’s fantastic, I’ve never met anyone like him, I’m really lucky.”

Debbie, who works as part of the Community Mental Health Team and loves belly dancing, is now busy planning her nuptials.

The mother-of three admits she likes to do things a little differently, so instead of a classic car, both she and her bridesmaids plans to hop on the number 425 bus to the church in full wedding attire.

Replacing a traditional wedding breakfast will be a fish and chip supper at her home for the wedding party, which includes Debbie’s three sons, Paul’s two daughters and their three grandsons.

The day will be rounded off with a wedding reception at Werneth Cricket Club with a few surprises thrown in.

Debbie said: “We have picked the same day, same time and church that my parents were married in 50 years earlier so the day will be a big double celebration.

“My father will be walking me down the same aisle he once walked as a groom.

“If the Chronicle hadn’t featured the competition, we never would have met. It must have been fate that we got together.”