Love's young dream

A bride of 94 got up out of her hospital bed to marry her 84-year-old sweetheart. Vi Stannard said she was determined to make her way up the aisle on Saturday to marry Derek Walker despite spending two days in hospital.
The courageous widow made it to the church on time in a wheelchair after she was injured in a fall last Thursday afternoon. Vi then had to return to Ipswich Hospital for more treatment after a happy reception for family and friends.
The couple, who have a combined age of 178, have wed at a time when many people are celebrating their 50th or 60th wedding anniversaries. New husband Derek, of Harkstead, said: 'She fell on her side when we were down at the river in Flatford on Thursday. I had to take her into hospital. But we still went on with the wedding and it was brilliant.' The retired Royal Navy surgeon commander added: 'Vi was very brave about the whole thing and the hospital consultant was satisfied as long as she wasn't out for too long.'
Vi was accompanied down the aisle by her delighted son David. She said her vows surrounded by family, friends and neighbours at a ceremony in St Mary's Church near their home in Harkstead.
They found love late in life after meeting when Vi moved to the quaint village 15 years ago to be near her son Peter and her grandchildren. Derek, a lifelong bachelor, proposed to her 12 years ago on holiday in Cornwall. But they delayed tying the knot because Vi, a committed Christian, did not want to divorce her first husband after they had become estranged. She had been separated from him for more than 40 years and he died last October aged 97.
Vi's untimely fall has forced the two sweethearts to postpone their dream honeymoon in posh Suffolk seaside resort Aldeburgh by a few days. But they are hoping she will be well enough to go later this month.