Five-decade musical love story heads to Glastonbury

A couple will add another chapter to their love story at the Glastonbury Festival this weekend.

Gaz Birtles married his childhood sweetheart Ann earlier this month - more than five decades after the pair got together as teenagers at the Gas Board Midsummer's Annual Dance in Humberstone Gate in 1972.

Now the former Beautiful South saxophonist and his new bride plan to honeymoon at the famous festival where his band The South are due to take to the stage.

While Mr Birtles has played the festival previously, this will be the first time they have stayed at the site.

"It will have to be the honeymoon. It has been a massive whirlwind. We are going to park up for four days," Ann said.

"I wouldn't swap it for the world. Maybe I won't be saying that next week though."

So why did it take half a century for the loved-up pair to tie the knot?

Ann said: "We really are getting older now. We have had two amazing sons so we have always had so much going on. Truthfully we never really believed in marriage.

"We were going to do the wedding for our 50th anniversary but our sons couldn't make it so we put it on hold again until now."

The couple's sons Peri and Jordan, have followed in their father's musical footsteps by achieving success as part of Leicester band Hard Life, formerly known as Easy Life.

"They have done amazing. They have always been in the same band which is great," said Ann.

Gaz added: "They have had a few years of touring the world and making a name for themselves. We couldn't be prouder.

"Our sons took over the wedding and made it the best day."

Leicester Town Hall was the chosen location for the ceremony before celebrations at Babelas in Queen's Road.

Gaz has toured extensively as frontman of The South, who perform reworked versions of classic tracks by The Beautiful South, and still holds fond memories of appearing on Glastonbury's famous Pyramid Stage in 1999.

"I remember coming out and seeing the people as far as you can see," he said.

"The sun was coming down and there was a haze of golden sunshine. It goes by in a flash but it is great."

Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.