It’s rags to romance at the market

Amid the hustle and bustle of busy traders and impatient shoppers, the last thing on their minds was romance.

But three couples Dawn and Paul Larkin, James and Jayne French, and Pete and Sarah Roberts fell in love while working on stalls at Birmingham’s Rag Market.

Jayne French from Oldbury, who owns a haberdashery stall, had to make the first move on shy husband James.

“I was working with my Dad on the haberdashery stall and James was helping his dad out on his material stall when we clocked each other as teenagers,” the 36 year-old says.

“He would come to my stall most days and have a chat but he didn’t have the bottle to ask me out. So one day I decided to asked him what he was up that evening and he snapped up my offer, but being three years younger than me he lied to me about his age.

“He said he was 25 when he was 20. We went out with his sister one night and she let it slip that he was going to be celebrating his 21st birthday. I’m sure he must have been kicking her under the table but I didn’t mind – I’d got myself a toy boy.”

Jayne and James, now 33, are the proud parents of Jack 11, Joshua 8 and Jacob, 4.

“People call us The Five Js,” says Jayne.

The first couple to start the wedding trend was Mr and Mrs Larkin, of Bull Ring Pet Stores, who caught each other’s eye while working on their parents’ stalls as teenagers 25 years ago. Nicknamed Ma and Pa Larkin, the pair even got married just metres away at St Martin’s Church, watched by scores of traders and customers.

Dawn Larkin, aged 41, from Coventry, said: “We lived together, got married, opened pet stalls and now have three beautiful children. We’re happier than ever.”

The most recent couple to have met at the Rag Market and married are Pete and Sarah Roberts, who own The Jewellery Stall.

They ended up together five-and-half-years-ago, thanks to a customer who was selling her engagement ring because her relationship had ended. Pete, aged 47, says: “Sarah owned a household goods stall opposite mine and she wandered over to my stall while I was chatting to the customer about her break-up.

“The lady said I should look for someone like Sarah, so later on I decided to ask her out, even though I thought she would think I was too old – I’m 16 years her senior.

“We went out on a date and have never looked back since. We have a two year old son called Pierce. Sarah now looks after him at home and helps on the stall at busy times.”

Sarah says: “I knew Pete for ages but it always seemed to be that one or both of us was in a relationship.

“We owe a lot to the customer that got us together but we have never seen her again.

“I’d definitely recommend the rag as a place to find romance – there are all sorts of people and characters here. You never know who is around the corner.”