Couple get married on the Falkirk Wheel

Published on Saturday 26 April 2003 01:00

A LOVESTRUCK couple yesterday became the first to tie the knot on the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s only rotating boat lift.

Shona Rennie, 29, and Allan Lindsay, 37, from the town, exchanged their vows at the wheel - despite heavy showers and strong winds.

But the new Mrs Lindsay, a civil servant, said that nothing could have dampened the spirits on her wedding barge.

She added: "It is a fantastic day that even the weather could not spoil. I could not wish for anything more."

The day began with couple and their 40 guests taking a 90-minute sail from Linlithgow on the 45ft-long barge, St Magdelene. At about 2pm, the barge boarded the Falkirk Wheel which connects the Forth and Clyde, and the Union canals.

The landmark whisked their decorated barge 115ft into the air, and as family and friends watched, the couple tied the knot in front of Reverend Stuart Sharpe.

Mr Lindsay, a painter and decorator, said his new father-in-law, David, had the idea for the unique ceremony.

He added: "It seemed like a good idea so we went along with it. We have see the wheel evolving over the last few years and it seemed appropriate that we held our wedding here.

"We have cycled past it loads of times and it is a really beautiful spectacle."

The 17 million Falkirk Wheel is part of an 84 million project to regenerate the canals in the central belt.