And it was very much a special venue for a special occasion.
Alistair and Wendy's wedding was the culmination of an unusual courtship, which first started when they worked together in the late 1970s.

Having lost contact in the intervening years, a fairytale ending gradually established itself after they met again six years ago.

Wendy said the Guildhall provided a gracious venue for the first wedding ceremony to take place there since before 2002, when the present town hall Keeper, Michael Herriott, took up the post.

"Beautiful flower arrangements of red roses, provided by The Flower Room, complemented both the bride's dress and the décor of the room," said Wendy.

Guests at the wedding were treated to the exquisite cello playing of Wendy's daughter, Verity, who is a Durham University music graduate, and photographs were taken by her son, George, who was photography editor for the The Oxford Student newspaper when he was at Magdalen College, Oxford. Afterwards, the wedding party enjoyed a superb meal and accommodation at the Waren House Hotel.

Wendy said when she and Alistair were considering available wedding venues in the area, they had been surprised that the striking building was not used for ceremonies more often.

The couple bought a house in Berwick a year ago, having fallen in love with the town. Alistair is a research scientist who works for the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Edinburgh and is currently president of the British Ornithologists' Union.

Wendy has just retired from her position of head of Yarm at Raventhorpe School in Darlington.

Wendy said the couple are looking forward to making their home in Berwick and getting involved in the local community.