Little Neston frying pan man Dave wins our Valentine's competition

Feb 13 2008 by Carrie Catterall, Birkenhead News

A FRYING pan is the only Valentine’s gift Chris Scrutton ever received from her romantically-challenged husband – until now.

Dave Scrutton, of Howards Way, Little Neston, secretly entered our Valentine’s Day competition and told us why his one and only deserved to win.

The retired graphic designer said: “I’ve made Chris cards for Valentine’s Day but I have never actually bought her anything.

“One year she said she wanted a present, so I got her a frying pan.

“I think now I’m getting older I’m softening a bit and I’ve realised that a good treat is well overdue.”

Dave and his wife met in their early 20s at a Uriah Heep concert and have been married for 35 years.

Chris worked as a primary school teacher but the couple never had any children.

Chris said: “Not having children has made Dave and I a very close couple.

“We do a lot of voluntary work now we are both retired and go away on holidays.

“My husband is a lot more relaxed now and probably has more time to think of me.”

Thanks to Dave’s thoughtfulness, Chris has won a meal at The Wro in West Kirby, jewellery from Catheralls and 20 long-stemmed red roses from The Business in the News’ Valentine competition.

She said: “It was a total surprise when I found out he had entered and won the competition.

“I was shocked, but thought it was about time.

“The only flowers I ever got from him was when I was in hospital and I told him to get them.

“He is a lovely husband though and where he has lacked in romance he has made it up in other ways.”

l Readers were asked to say in no more than 20 words why their partner deserved the prize.

Here is Dave’s winning entry:

Chris has cooked for me for 35 years and the only Valentine’s gift she has ever received was a frying pan.

Runner-up entries were:

Her lips, her eyes, her body are like a work of art. The most creative thing, her beautiful loving heart.

Daniel Tyrrell, Bidston Road.

My Jackie, she’s special, deserves a nice treat. Fifteen years we’ve been married, still skipping a beat - is my heart.

Geoff Jackson, Westbourne Road, Wallasey.

I am disabled and unable to work. My lovely wife works full-time and still looks after me.

Brian Knowles, Wallasey Village.

Since Christmas my husband has had an all over rash from a paint allergy, food poisoning from smoked oysters and he has fallen over twice.

Doreen Woodward, Egremont Promenade, Wallasey.

You look after me like a precious stone - preserve, protect and love. But the real diamond is you.

Mrs P Richardson, Chiltern Road, Prenton.