THE son of a Hereford millionaire is rubbing shoulders with European aristocracy after marrying a highborn German countess.

It's hardly a tale of rags to riches for Simeon Williamson, whose father Peter owns the massive Wyevale Garden Nursery chain, but he is considering changing his name to Count.

The 32-year-old patent attorney who works for British Telecom in London married long-term girlfriend, the Countess Julia Schimmelmann, who is a merchant banker in the City, twice in double celebrations this month.

Following German tradition, the happy couple, who met during Simeon's last year at York University in May 1992, were first married in a civil ceremony at Julia's ancestral home, Ahrensburg Castle near Hamburg.

"We exchanged rings for the second time, and vows again, the next day at a church wedding in Hamburg," said Simeon.

Peter Williamson travelled over for the occasion with wife Margaret and 30 friends and family from Hereford, including old friends from Hereford Cathedral School.

He said the Schimmelmanns were a very old and well-known family in Hamburg and their imposing white castle, now cared for like a National Trust treasure, had been in the family for seven generations.

Simeon could become the latest in a long line of counts, but it would mean swapping his own well-known family names for his wife's.

Simeon and Julia, who decided to get married during a romantic break at a Scottish castle, are now looking forward to their honeymoon in Chile.