Everyone has a story.....

I think "had to" is going it a bit Mike chose to perhaps

I'm guessing 95% of eligible sponsors "chose to" as they were probably in gainful employment that didn't allow for "other" opportunities.

"Choosing" was not in my mind, Keith.
When I met my dear wife, once romance was unstoppable, I had to do whatever was required to bring her to the UK asap.
My fiancée and I both made a plan back in 2008 and it was full speed ahead until she was with me.
There was no choice, just things we had to do to be together in the UK and damn the torpedoes.

And who might those be, Markham?
I know you are not part of a love-in with Keith but I don't know if Mr. Homer features from the first post of this thread ?
Just finished work recently and my brain and body are diminishing in functionality

They are the names of two leading pigs in George Orwell's allegorical novel, Animal Farm. Snowball represents Leon Trotsky and Napoleon represents Stalin.

"Snowball represents Leon Trotsky and Napoleon represents Stalin."

I think these are the reds under Marks bed Mike