Lifelong horseracing fans John and Fiona Eaton took a trip down memory lane at Newmarket on Wednesday (19th October) when celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary at the Rowley Mile - a quarter of a century after holding their wedding reception at the historic venue. 

The couple, who hail from Fakenham in Norfolk and are both annual members at Newmarket, enjoyed a day to remember at headquarters’ to commemorate their silver wedding with a meal in Champions Gallery restaurant.

In addition to dining in style the pair, who tied the knot on October 17, 1997, were presented with a race card signed by all the jockeys in attendance at the meeting along with receiving a bottle of champagne and a framed photograph.

And to make the occasion even more special, the couple celebrated backing all four of champion jockey William Buick’s winners on the seven race card.

“We had a cracking day. I’m a big fan of the boys in blue at Godolphin and Mr Buick had a brilliant day with Mr Appleby and I backed all four of their winners so it was also a good day financially,” said John.

“The racecourse were really kind to us. We had a copy of the race card signed by the jockeys to go alongside the one that we had signed 25 years ago.

“We also received a nice portrait photograph of us two together and to cap it all off we were given a bottle of champagne.”

First meeting each other as teenagers, it wasn’t until some years after, and the arrival of their son James, that the couple decided to get married and celebrate the occasion with an afternoon doing one of their favourite hobbies.

Fiona said: “When we were teenagers we knew one and other and we were going around in the same social circles.

“Then there was a bit of a time lapse and I suppose we got together over 30 years ago. We were living in Old Harlow in about 1993 and we had a son James, who turned up in 1996, and we thought actually maybe we ought to get married.

“We only wanted a small wedding so we got married at Harlow Registry Office, but we decided to hire a coach and spend the afternoon racing with our friends and family as that is what we enjoy doing and as we love Newmarket we came here.”