A chance decision to kill time in the Kilted Kangaroo pub led to a dream honeymoon in Australia for an ex-serviceman.
Brian Young (41), a well-travelled lover of all things Antipodean, still could not believe his luck as he talked to The Falkirk Herald at his home in Thornbridge Road, Falkirk, this week.
After five years together, the former Argyll and Sutherland Highlander is going to marry fiancée Pamela Graham (43) on November 28 and fate has lent a hand to take the couple’s wedding experience beyond perfection.
Brian said: “A few weeks back I had a bit of spare cash so I decided to take Pamela out to Nandos because she had never been before. She works in Stirling so I popped into The Kilted Kangaroo for a couple of drinks waiting for her to finish.”
He also bought six prize draw tickets for the venue’s popular annual Australia Day prize draw. The only condition was you had to attend on the night – Saturday, January 26 – to be in with a chance of winning the top prize of two return tickets to Australia worth £2000.
“On the night of the draw the weather was really bad,” said Brian. “Pamela said I don’t know if we should go, but I felt we should be there. When we got there the place was packed with about 200 people.”
When the draw for the main prize came up lady luck smiled upon Brian and Pamela.
“They had to redraw for the prize about four times,” said Brian. “There was a girl standing next to me holding 16 tickets. When the number was announced Pamela turned to me and said: ‘Brian, we’ve won’.
“She let out a big yell and I screamed ‘you dancer’.”
The big win allowed the couple to plan a honeymoon in Australia, meaning they could see in the New Year in Sydney and Brian could visit his family and his two best men.
He said: “I’ve been to Australia five times and Pamela has been once before. My mother’s brothers and sisters live in Melbourne so we have arranged to stay with them.
“I’m looking forward to getting married the most, but the Aussie trip is just wonderful. Winning those flights opened up a whole world of possibility for us.”
It was a lucky week for security guard Brian, who was with the Argylls for eight years. After his win he also found out he had been selected to join veterans’ charity Skiing with Heroes at an event in Klosters in March.
“And I won a tenner on the lottery,” he laughed.
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