Daniel
Poxon grew up among the people of FMC and,
although he now lives and works in London, he returned on Friday, 24th
October, to marry his childhood sweetheart Sarah Louise Roberts, who looked
lovely and was attended by three bridesmaids and a page boy - her nephew.
It was a real family wedding: not only were Daniel’s
Dad and Mum assisting our current Minister, Malcolm, with the ceremony but elder
brother Matthew was doing his best to ensure that all went to plan; sister
Tamara read us a special poem of her own; younger brother Joseph played and sang
to us and his granddad was there too. All people we’ve known for a long time,
and it made for a very happy reunion. We also had the bonus of seeing Lauren
again (Matthew’s wife) with little Oliver Tobias, and being able to check up on
his progress.All-in-all, a splendid afternoon with
the Poxon family and the weather was fine too, if a little chilly – but it was
late October after all.
The following day, another ‘Child of the Manse’ was
married at the parish church of St Peter and St Paul in the village of Sturton-le-Steeple
near Retford.
Anna Sheasby married her
Welsh fiancée James Thomas. She was attended by five bridesmaids, two of which
were Ali Birkett and Isobel Holgeth from
Fulwood Methodist and the two ushers were David Cameron and Andrew McManus. In
the eyes of the law, Anna and James had actually been married the previous day.
This was to fulfil the legal requirements of the Anglican
church, which states that a couple must be married by the vicar of the
church in which the wedding takes place. The reason for her
tying the knot in an Anglican church was because the ceiling of Peter’s church
had caved in just a few weeks before the ceremony. The vicar, Rev Mark Cantrill
of St Peter and St Paul and Grove Street Methodist, described by one of his
flock as a ‘Manglican’, welcomed us all to the slightly delayed service.
He confided in us that the bride had left her bouquet at home
so she had to wait in the car while Peter rushed back to collect it! The service
was then conducted by Anna’s godfather, the Reverend Doctor Keith Albans.
Friends of Anna and James gave us various readings and provided a small choir.
After the ceremony, the guests climbed into a vintage
charabanc and drove off to the reception, followed by a ceilidh, which was very
much enjoyed by all who were able to stay. Christine looked extremely well and
Peter certainly enjoyed the role of simply being the proud father. As with
Daniel and Sarah’s wedding, the weather was fine!
Barbara Hothersall