THEY are two of the most recognisable faces in the Houses of Parliament whose lives have been touched by personal crises.

She is a past president of the Liberal Democrats and a prominent member of the House of Lords while he is an MP and deputy leader of the party.

Now, Southampton peer Baron-ess Diana Maddock and Ber-wick-upon-Tweed MP Alan Beith are celebrating their own union.

The couple have been good friends for many years, and will marry in the new year.

However, they are still undecided whether to tie the knot in Hampshire or Mr Beith's home county of Northumberland.

She said: "We have been particularly close for a number of years. We had children of the same age, we have known each other for a long time as really good friends and we decided to spend our lives together."

The couple met in 1993, when Baroness Maddock, 55, overturned a massive Conservative majority to win the Christ-church by-election, a seat she held for four years.

Mr Beith took the MP under his wing and she helped him with his Private Member's Finance Bill - a key plank of then Liberal Democrat party policy.

Both Mr Beith, who has been MP for Berwick since 1973, and Baroness Maddock have been hit by crises in the personal lives.

Two years ago, Mr Beith's wife Barbara, died and recently his son Christopher, 25, was also found dead.

Mr Beith, 57, lost his wife, a teacher, to breast cancer in 1998.

Seven months later his mother died and earlier this year his adopted son, who was diabetic, was found dead at the family home. Mr Beith has been MP for the border town since 1973.

In November last year, the Daily Echo revealed that Baroness Maddock and her husband, Bob, had separated amicably after 23 years together.

The couple have two daughters - Becki, 24, who was badly injured in a fall from the balcony of a flat while studying in Egypt, and Anna, 22.

Baroness Maddock said: "Both myself and Alan had a rotten time and were able to support each other through it. Becki is a lot better now and has gone back to Egypt. Alan's son died and it's particularly because of that we have been thrown together and decided to get closer."

In June, Baroness Maddock announced she would not seek a second term as president of the Party after finishing a two-year term. She was the first woman appointed to the post.

She moved to Southampton in 1966 and held teaching posts at Weston Park and Sholing girls' schools. She was Liberal Democrat group leader on Southampton City Council and councillor for Portswood from 1984 to 1993.