Meet our own Cheryl and Ashley Cole. . . (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Meet our own Cheryl and Ashley Cole. . .

10:30am Friday 12th March 2010 in

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WHEN you are called Cheryl and Ashley Cole, you can expect to get a fair bit of attention.

And that’s exactly what has happened to a north Hampshire couple after they found themselves in the national spotlight because they share the same names as the Girls Aloud singer and X Factor judge and her famous – or perhaps that should be infamous – Chelsea and England footballer husband.

Of course, the well-known Cheryl and Ashley have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons with their marriage apparently on the rocks following Ashley’s alleged extra-marital flings.

Thankfully, the story of our local Cheryl and Ashley is a much more joyful tale. They have been happily married for 14 years.

The down-to-earth Silchester couple – Cheryl, 38, said: “I’m happiest in my fleece and jeans” – have had a small taste of the high-profile life led by the pop star and the England footballer after appearing in The Sun newspaper last week.

Ashley, head of motor at insurance company Hiscox, said: “It was just a bit of fun for us. You can imagine that in the office there’s been a lot of laughs about it.”

Sharing the same names as the celebrity couple has helped free up tables at restaurants for Cheryl and Ashley, but the only other time their lives have crossed paths with the famous pair was when an 11-year-old girl from the West Midlands sent Ashley a letter telling him he was “the greatest footballer ever”.

Ashley, who is not a big football fan but enjoys watching Manchester United, forwarded it on to the England star’s club Chelsea.

As a youngster, Ashley, now 39, grew up in Old Basing and attended Queen Mary’s College (QMC) before heading to Bournemouth University.

During a gap year, he worked at the then Hampshire Centre Court Hotel where he recognised receptionist and fellow former QMC student Cheryl Tait, who was born in Sunderland but had lived in Hartley Wintney since she was 12. They started dating and four years later she became Cheryl Cole.

So, would Cheryl, a full-time mum to their five-year-old daughter Amelia, ever swap her Ashley for the footballer?

“No way,” she said. “I’m very happy with my Ashley Cole thank you.

“I feel lucky. We have lots of friends, a good life and have been together a long time.”

Asked about their famous namesakes’ problems, Ashley said: “You never know what goes on behind closed doors, let alone what pressures they go through. I hope it works out for the best.”