A tartan-clad happy couple who fell in love later in life after attending a school reunion used their Hitchin wedding day to raise funds for Ukraine.
Bev Creagh and Andrew Weymouth asked their 60 guests to give donations instead of presents to boost the fundraising for the HALO Trust at the Orange Tree pub where they held their reception.
Bev said: “We had the most blissfully happy day surrounded by all the people we love best. We were sad Andrew’s son and daughter in South Africa couldn’t join us, but they both sent very loving messages.
“And we were delighted that our generous friends raised £365 for the Ukrainian appeal - it made our wedding even more worthwhile.”
The marriage took place at St Peter's Church in Lilley, three years after the newlyweds met to remember their schooldays in Ndola, then in northern Rhodesia.
They did not keep in touch after secondary school and each married twice before falling in love in their 70s.
They spent their early life together in lockdown after Andrew, 73, left South Africa and moved into 74-year-old Bev's Hitchin home just weeks before the pandemic struck.
Hearing Andrew play the bagpipes on the doorstep during the Thursday clap for carers, neighbour and fellow piper Linton Stuteley came around to introduce himself. The two became firm friends and Linton was on hand to pipe the happy couple out of the church on their big day.
Bev and Andrew were decked out in Ross tartan to celebrate the groom's Scottish roots and he even got a chance to play his bagpipes with Linton at the reception.
The guests' donations boosted the Orange Tree total to £1,300, with Lithuanian landlord Kristupas Dacius, originally from Vilnius, giving his £350 Christmas bonus and staff and customers chipping in too.
Kris is hoping to host a Ukrainian family soon, just like his twin brother is already doing in Lithuania.
Hertford brewery McMullen and Sons has pledged to donate £1 for every £10 raised in its pubs, with an additional £1 in £10 if the fundraising is for work in the Ukraine by the landmine clearance charity HALO Trust, for whom joint managing director Tom McMullen worked before joining the family firm.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here