Saturday June 27, 1981

 _. The most sacred and beauteous day of my life. I was awake at 5:30 having slept in a sleeping bag on the dining room floor. Billy and Dave G were awake, and we sat on the back terrace steps, taking the early morning air. I did laps of Greenfield Avenue, first on my own, and then with Dave. 

Breakfast was a stampede. My brother, and best man, arrived at 10:30 and by 11 were were dressed. I shook only very slightly. In fact John seemed more nervous than me. Mum began to fluster and this made me feel worse. John and I left for the church at 11:40, and at Esholt a multitude were amassed outside. Cameras clicked. Dave Porritt there with the video camera. I kissed Bessie, all in pink, in the church doorway and John whispered: "Who is that?" Of course, they have never met. The bride arrived at noon. I had to turn and look as she glided down the aisle, her full skirts shining like silver. Breathtaking. Her face lit with happiness. This set the tone of the service. We stood 'eyeing' each other and grinning. I think my responses were audible. I did, however, pronounce the 'H' in honour and said 'death do us part' insead of 'death us do part'. Ally said something wrong and then said 'sorry', only to be hurried along by Calvin Ward with a 'never mind, never mind'. We managed to kneel without falling on our faces. What I always thought might be a hideous ordeal was in fact exciting and unfortgettable. Why didn't we think of doing it earlier? We signed the register without a hitch. In the singing of the second hymn 'All People That On Earth Do Dwell' the organist dried bringing everything to a brief standstill. We left the church, arm in arm, to sunshine outside.

Outside the photographers took over. Jack Simon and Graham Lindley, from the YP. The session lasted for over half an hour. The drive in the marvellous old car to the Cow & Calf gave us the chance to talk. We formed a reception committee in the doorway greeting all the guests in a chain of kisses and grasped hands. Auntie Mabel was the only one who looked to be on the verge of tears.

I had no appetite. Poked at my roast beef. I worked out a speech plan with John. Graham said grace in Latin. John stood and proposed a toast to the Queen, not my suggestion, but Frank's. John then said a few words, proposed a toast, and then so did I. Frank then stood, and for a man used to public speaking, he looked very pale. He made a very moving father of the bride speech, saying how Ally had come back to live in the north and that Mum and Dad had looked after her so well. He almost broke down.

Speeches over we mingled with all the tables. Delia and Sarah were sat with the Rawnsleys. They were howling with laughter.

We left at 9:30 in a taxi from the Cow & Calf to Manchester Airport. We flew in the early hours to Athens.

-=-