In January 1956, mum noted that she had decided to ask Carole Holland to be her sixth bridesmaid. She did not record asking the other five but they were Marilyn Seville, Dorothy Lofthouse, Maureen and Janet Stark (dad’s nieces) and Lynne Evans. That same month, grandma and mum went to see Mrs Booler, of Beulah Road, to see about making bridesmaids’ dresses. In February 1956, mum went into Nottingham and got a sample and pattern for the bridesmaids’ dresses. That same month, she went into Nottingham with grandma. They bought mum’s going away dress and material for her dress. They “ordered bridesmaids” (presumably material) and “looked at Roy’s” (suit?). They also got cake decorations.

 

In March 1956, Dorothy visited in order to be measured for her bridesmaid’s dress. That same month, both grandad and dad were measured for their suits, and grandma ordered her dress. At the end of that month, mum took Maureen and Janet to be measured. The measuring continued into April with Lynne and Carole being measured on the 3rd. On the 7th, Marilyn visited to be measured. On the 15th, mum took Lynne for a fitting. Three days later, she bought presents for the bridesmaids and ties for dad, grandad, and Denis, dad’s brother and best man. On the 21st, mum took Maureen and Janet for a fitting and on the 29th Marilyn visited for a fitting.

 

In May, on the 8th, and again on the 15th, mum went to Mrs Booler’s to have her dress fitted. On 28 May, mum noted making lots of cake etc. She also noted that Ella Lofthouse arrived for the wedding on the 28th and Arthur on the 31st. Dorothy came on 1 June and, that night, mum noted going to chapel to put tables up.

 

Mum and dad got married at Bourne Methodist chapel on 2 June 1956 at 2.30pm. The wedding was officiated by the current minister, Rev Howells, and the former minister and family friend, Arthur Lofthouse. There were several copies of the order of service among mum’s papers. According to these, the opening music was “Antantino” by Edwin H Lemare. There were three hymns and the service included holy communion. The three hymns were “The voice that breathed o’er Eden”, “Be known to us in the breaking bread” and “O perfect love”. Other music included the bridal march “Lohengrin” by Wagner, Mendelssohn’s  wedding march and Handel’s Largo, during the signing of the register.

 

Because of ill-health, grandad was unable to attend the wedding. This meant that mum was “given away” by grandma’s brother, Bert. Ken Hodges sat with grandad during the wedding and Mr Pinchbeck, the pastor of the Full Gospel church, made an audio recording of the