New love after loss
Christine and Brian
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“Everything was magical from beginning to end”, said Christine about her wedding day in July this year when she married Brian at St Laud’s church, Sherington, Newport Pagnell.
The couple, both in their 70’s, had each been through the heartache of losing their former spouses. Christine’s husband, Andrew, had died suddenly of a heart attack and Brian had lost his dear wife, Pamela, to cancer.
Christine remembered: “Soon after Andrew died, I was caring for my elderly mother too. It was a difficult time, so I never considered anyone else, even though my family and friends kept saying I might meet someone new.”
Meanwhile Brian, who was related to Christine’s late husband, was living abroad and often travelled to the UK to visit his family and knew Christine through those family connections.
On one of his UK trips, he visited Christine. Their shared history made them feel relaxed in each other’s company, and they got on so well that a relationship began to blossom.
We feel that Andrew and Pamela are looking down on us, and they are happy for us too.
At first the couple lived together and weren’t going to marry, but Brian had strong beliefs that marriage was the right thing to do once they had committed to staying together.
They decided to marry in their parish church. They felt it was the right place to be married and as it was so close to their home, they could literally walk to their wedding.
Family who were still living abroad travelled to be there, and were involved in parts of the service – Christine’s two sons gave her away and Brian’s daughters were involved in doing the readings and being witnesses.
“Mandy Marriott, the Vicar, was just a wonderful person,” said Christine. “All the things she said in the service made us feel so special. She just had a certain presence – she’s a very special lady.”
Christine added: “We both felt deeply that getting married was the right thing to do. And we feel that Andrew and Pamela are looking down on us, and they are happy for us too.”