Wedding Plans The months leading up to our wedding were busy. We made the necessary arrangements with the local Parish priest and the registrar, and hoped to make it a quiet affair with just our families present. Then a few friends were carefully selected. Gradually the numbers crept to seventy guests, and we had to arrange a buffet reception in the adjoining church hall! Freda was happy to be my Maid of Honour, and Trevor to be Best Man. Choosing our wedding rings was a bit more complicated. Going out together would have involved two others again, and those precious intimate moments would be lost. So we asked a voluntary shopper for the hostel's residents to request a small selection on approval from the jewellers. It was a bold request indeed, but the lady was entrusted with three men's and three ladies' rings! We tried them on in the quiet seclusion of Jack's room. I chose a patterned white gold band, to match my engagement and eternity rings, while Jack's ring was faceted in yellow gold. Keeping costs to a minimum, I decided to make my own wedding outfit. It was a simple white lace two-piece, lined with satin. I later matched this with a small floral coronet, and shoes, whilst on a rare shopping expedition with Freda and Trevor. I also made Freda's short turquoise dress. But what would Jack wear for the occasion? He never had the courage to be measured for a suit, believing it impossible to fit his awkward shape smartly. However, he did let me try making him a jacket, and bought some charcoal-grey material to match his ready- made trousers. He seemed confident that my efforts would make him presentable enough. Looking back, that seems strange now, when he thinks nothing of entering the local shop for a tailor-made suit or coat. In traditional style, Jack and Trevor celebrated with their own little Stag Party, settling in a pub where they enjoyed the music. Meanwhile, Freda and I were left preparing some trifle for the buffet. Her small kitchen suited me fairly well for working. I had arranged to stay the night at her house, so that Trevor could take me to the hairdressers the next morning. A beaming Trevor eventually returned home, obviously and happily tiddly, and pleased to inform us that Jack was in a similar state when he left him. Whereupon Trevor bumped into the table, and all the trifle cases turned upside down on the floor! Freda and I were flabbergasted. We did not know whether to laugh of cry. "Oh Trevor. You clumsy clot!" we shouted in unison. During all these plans, one day at the hostel, I met Miss Elizabeth Barnes. She expressed keen interest in the news, which was now spreading fast. I can still recall her gentle expression as she enquired: "And you intend to live as you are now, even after the wedding?" I nodded, adding, "Unless we can find a place where disabled couples can live together." My comments were merely by the way, since I was then unaware of Miss Barnes' influential position as Assistant Chief Welfare Officer. "We'd also like a honeymoon together, but don't really know of anywhere to go." Miss Barnes' tall neat figure bent low, as she said quietly and with great understanding, "I'll make a few enquiries." We were soon to learn about a WRVS Centre in Surrey. It would be our very first holiday without friends who understood our needs completely. But carried along by my enthusiasm, Jack seemed ready for anything! Fifty pounds for a fortnight's stay seemed an absolute fortune to us. But before we could start worrying about it, the local branch of the Muscular Dystrophy Group had offered us a grant. It seemed too good to be true. We were not expecting to have a home of our own, and so wedding presents were unnecessary. Nevertheless, many people insisted on giving us cash. There were some very touching responses, too. A cheque from Mildred and Bill had as accompanying note simply saying "To buy a little time together."