It was 20 September 2014. Paul was standing outside a bar in Clapham called Honky Tonk. The seams of his black cardigan flapping in the breeze as he looked at his watch and wondered whether a girl called Jane was going to turn up. Jane was frazzled. She'd already sunk a couple of G&T's getting ready. She was also late. As always. A two hour date turned into eight hours and ended with Paul escorting Jane home after she fell asleep at the bar, one too many drinks later. To this day, it's still a mystery as to whether the pre-cursor to Jane's narcolepsy that night really was the number of drinks consumed or the extent to which Paul described...in detail...his (electric blue) BMW convertible (with cream leather seats)... Notwithstanding the narcolepsy and questionable vehicle choice, neither were deterred and the romance took off from there!

It was August 2019. Paul and Jane were heading to Ibiza for the Bank Holiday. A week later they were due to complete on their first home together, No. 174. Paul had a panic at London Gatwick - “What if the ring goes off at security?” he thought. He needn’t have worried. Jane was intent on securing them both a pre-flight chicken dinner at Nandos. She had already disappeared off ahead through security calling out into the crowd that she’d grab them a table. Fast forward two days. They had spent the day on the beach and tootling around the island in their rental car (Fred the Fiat). The last stop was Es Vedra, a famous local spot for sunset. They climbed a rock face facing Es Vedra, ordered two Coca Colas and watched as the sky turned a pinky purple. Paul then suggested they get a photo together. This was unusual. Paul Bergin never requests a photo. So, Jane seized her moment and quickly rallied together a local to take a snap unaware of the fact that Paul was beginning to set the scene to mark a key moment in their relationship. We’ve included the photo that was taken that evening below. As Jane was still cooing over the photo just taken, she hadn’t realised that Paul was beginning to pull out of his pocket a little box with something glistening inside it. Paul said “what do you think?” Jane said “if you insist!” And the rest is history. They both then decided there was no finer celebration for such a moment than grabbing a kebab for dinner in the local port. Chicken shish for two.

Jane was born in Belfast in December 1988. She started her life in Northern Ireland, attending school with all her Methodist College girls. Unlike Paul, she was a model pupil and joined every club and organisation she could muster, which ended up including the playing of various musical instruments from the trumpet to cello to.....tenor recorder. The ultimate cool kid status symbol. She landed in London in 2011 having taken a few detours around the world to live for periods of time in Mexico, South Africa & subsequently Prague. In Mexico, Jane taught the Mexican police English. They taught her how to drink strong margaritas. Jane developed a love of cocktails. The police inherited a Northern Irish twang to their English. In South Africa, Jane spent a year living & working in Cape Town’s townships establishing a network of care facilities for families and children alongside a side career of assisting South Africa's economy in Savannah cider consumption and braaing. In Prague, Jane worked for six months on secondment as part of her legal career alongside a colleague and now one of her best friends and bridesmaids, Anushka. Unbeknownst to both Paul and Jane, Paul was also working in Prague at the same time as Jane and lived in the same local area. However, they didn't bump into each other during that time. Well, not that either of them remember - Paul on the pivos (beers) and Jane in a six month svíčková and absinthe haze. Jane now works in London as a lawyer, remains a keen traveller and doting Mum to their Cavapoo, Ruby.

Paul was born in Croydon in June 1986 and subsequently settled at his family home in Coulsdon, Surrey. After a tumultuous few years of being a little (beep) at school and getting up to mischief, he left for the world of work, becoming a runner on the London Stock Exchange aged 16 before deciding office life wasn't for him. He subsequently took up carpentry and now works as a Bespoke Joiner catering for the woodwork desires of the rich, famous and royalty in London & around the world. He tells Jane that one of his career highlights was working for David Beckham at his Holland Park home. Technically, coming 'out of the closet' to David when David suddenly arrived at the house and said hello whilst Paul was inside one of his wardrobes. He tells everyone else it was the gentleman's club he fitted out in St Tropez harbour (before Jane was on the scene, he quickly adds). His next greatest love is golf. So much so, he originally planned to propose at the Irish Open but was disappointed that the ring wasn't ready. Jane calls this one of Paul's luckiest escapes. Since they both moved into No. 174 in August 2019, Paul has worked tirelessly to create them (and now little Ruby) a home that they can enjoy. And Ruby and Jane are very grateful!