August 28 th 2002. Here it is, Warrington Register Office. Ray waits thinking "All we need now is some guests."
Our ntl.talk guests arrive - Ponder (Colin) and Jane with the Ferret (Greg) resplendent in shades and towering over the other two!
It's the Bride!!! And Greg performs the door opening ceremony as though he were born to it;)
The Bridal party arrived early - well, there's people to meet and talking to be done! Here you see the lovely medieval dress Cathy chose with Carla's dress complimenting the bride's. And Allen joined in the theme, too. Sorry about the arm that appeared in the picture as well, it was rather hectic and well populated there;)
Next to arrive were Cathy's boys. Left to right:- Danny (16), Cathy, Carla (14), Kevin (18 at Christmas) and Kate (Kevin's girlfriend) with young Jack (8) on the front row. Jack, too was dressed to theme.
Greg is wrongly named "Ferret", IMHO he should be called "The Pied Piper" as he is like a magnet to youngsters. They adore him and would move heaven and earth to be near him! Here you see Carla and Jack loving every minute of being photographed with him:)
Bett, Ray's Mother, is head of the Milne family. At almost 77 and still driving her car everywhere, she is unstoppable. Here she guides her husband Sid (80 this year) towards us all. I use the word "guides" advisedly because the Health people have insisted she has a power assisted wheelchair for him, until last year she was still physically pushing him. You notice Ray is only allowed to carry luggage - no one is allowed to care for Sid without a fight from Bett!!
And then we at last went in to the Register Office. But were they ready for us? No, ten minutes after the appointed time we were called in for the ceremony :( But it gave us time to chat and here we see Cathy chatting to her Gran and displaying the beautiful silver ribbon that decorated the sleeves of her dress, the silver-lined sleeves and the beautiful bodice front. Not forgetting the pretty headdress and veil.
Grandmother: "How do you keep that veil in place so well?" Granddaughter:"When it starts to slip one way I tip my head the other way, like this, and it goes back!"
Allen sits listening to Greg as he tells yet another of his tales while we wait.
Carla sits by Greg while her Great-Granddad takes in all that's going on
And then the ceremony began - no photos here:( But soon the clerk was filling in the register while a new Mrs Jones waited to sign it
Concentration as Allen signs the register
Cathy adds her signature. Now she really is "Mrs Jones"
Certificate firmly clutched in Cathy's hand the bride and groom seal the union with a kiss.
The Bride, the Groom and the two witnesses pose for the camera. Les, next to Cathy, posts in talk as Kebab. Wayne, next to Allen, was responsible with Les for the evening buffet. It was their wedding present to the happy couple and what a superb buffet it was!
The Bride, the Groom and the Pageboy. Jack insists he now wants to be known as "JJ"
Ponder and Jane pose with the happy couple
Maria babysat for quite some years to allow Cathy and Allen to go out. She loved it so much she even travelled to Sankey after Cathy and Allen moved there.
Now you know Pam was there, usually taking the piccies. So just to ensure I was on at least one I passed the camera over. This is me, the happy couple and a proud Bride's Dad - honest ;)))
Fortunately someone was using Allen and Cathy's camera to show what the view was like!
Modern day confetti!!! It was quite sweet to find this champagne bottle had fallen where it did! And this piccy also shows the necklace Cathy was wearing. It was a total surprise to me. I gave it to her a few years back to put amongst her treasures. It had belonged to my Mum, then to me. It must be something like 35-40 years old and my daughter chooses to wear it on her wedding day. I was so touched :)
Did I really look that tired? And I wonder why I was wandering around with the PCCam still in its stand !!
Time off between photos for a good old gossip with Jane.
At the end of the street that houses the Register Office is a lovely new pub and it was there we all collected next for a hearty meal. This is the view up the table ......
........while this is the view down the table (or was it the other way round?)
Jack, budding photographer, and Ponder, accomplished with digital cameras, watch the camera with interest while Jane sups her Diet Coke!
Greg listens intently and something amuses Kate.
Greg looks delighted at something!
Wayne enjoys a pint.
But only one since he's driving and has a buffet to see to this evening. Seen from the side, his glass tells you the secret.
But there's no rules about drinking and wheelchairs so our eldest family member, the 80 year old, contentedly sups his pint .......
....... while our youngest family member, the 8 year old, contentedly sups his pint.
After the wedding breakfast it was back home for us for a quick download of the camera contents so we could start afresh at the evening do. We had a few hours free so changed into scruff order and put our feet up. And then came a phone call telling us everyone was at Cathy's and PaddyJoe had arrived and we really must come and meet him. So we did! We left Cathy's and went home to change and get ready for the evening do. This we were really looking forward to as it was where we would meet the rest of the talkers. The evening events follow here