A 95-year-old woman has married her 93-year-old partner, after being the bridesmaid at his first wedding.
Margaret Husband was a bridesmaid at Bernard Brice’s first wedding but has now become the bride 66 years later after they met again at his late wife’s funeral.
The newlyweds rekindled their friendship six years ago and love blossomed when Margaret travelled 250 miles to visit Bernard after his wife and her friend Dorothy passed away.
Bernard and Margaret wowed their congregation on the weekend as they tied the knot to become two of the world’s oldest newlyweds, with a combined age of 188.
Margaret’s youngest son Robert Husband, 52, who walked her down the aisle, said: “I certainly didn’t expect to give her away.
“She’s been living with me for nine years and there was a list of reasons why we thought she might leave, but this wasn’t on it. I thought I would get too emotional walking down the aisle.
“We brought mum up for Bernard’s late wife’s funeral and he collared me afterwards to say he’d always had a soft spot for mum. It’s great to see them together.”
Margaret, 95, from Banbury, Oxfordshire has moved to live with her new husband, Brian two years her junior in Cumbria 66 years after watching him stand at the altar with her friend.
Margaret’s first husband and father of her four sons, David, died of cancer 30 years ago soon after retirement.
Son Robert said: “If there was a list of all the things I thought would happen this year, it wouldn’t even make the bottom.
“It was a brilliant day, they both had a lot of friends from around the country who went up to celebrate with them.
“My mum moved up two or three weeks before the wedding, they’re both mobile and in good health.
“It was really interesting when I did the speech because I wasn’t sure whether to mention Bernard’s chat with me at his late wife’s funeral or not.
“His words were, ‘You know I’ve always had a soft spot for your mum don’t you.’
“I replied saying, yes I know. I was a bit taken back when he told me he liked my mum at his wife’s funeral as it’s obviously quite a sensitive time but it’s all worked out.
“I didn’t think I’d see the day but it’s really nice they’ve got this loving companionship at their age.”
Bernard said: “I never dreamed I’d get married at this age. I wasn’t nervous, I was excited. It was a good service and going to start married life in earnest.”
Margaret who entered St Mary’s Church, Gosforth, with posies and ribbons tied to the handlebars of her three-wheeled walker, said: “I feel so welcomed into Bernard’s family, we trust each other.”
Her granddaughters Holly and Megan Husband were her bridesmaids, with Eileen McDonald acting as her maid of honour.
Megan, 18, said: “It was a really good day and was a bit of a shock really but it makes for such a lovely story and now I have a new grandfather.”
The couple’s sons had key roles at the church service with Bernard’s son, Graham, 63, taking on the role of best man while Margaret was given away by all of her sons: Brian, Mark, Steve and Rob.
The groom’s daughter, Helen Gadsby, 65, said: “It was lovely, a really nice service. I never expected to see my dad get married – he’s 93.”
During the service, her son Brian sang Make Me a Channel of Your Peace while Reverend John Riley, who led the service, called the couple “remarkable”, adding they are “two lovely, devoted, committed people”.
