A couple from Portland have tied the knot at Dorset County Hospital to celebrate their love amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
Tina and Mick Hickton exchanged their vows in the hospital’s Chapel on Friday (3) after they received a special licence to marry because of exceptional circumstances.
The couple, who have been together for ten years, said it may have not been the traditional wedding but it was ‘the perfect day’.
Tina, 53, is currently undergoing cancer treatment at DCH and was due to marry Mick, 52, later this year – but with the current pandemic they had to cancel their plans.
However DCH Lung Specialist Nurse Alex Hillcox-Smith, Associate Nurse Specialist Anita Burnham and Macmillan Cancer Support worker Sian Thomas-Cutts wanted to see if there was anything the Trust could do to help and approached DCH Chaplain Ron Martin for advice.
It was then that Ron contacted the Archbishop of Canterbury to explain the circumstances and request a special licence for the ceremony.
With this approved, the couple were invited to the hospital on Friday morning to tie the knot.
Tina said: “The whole experience has been so overwhelming. We are so grateful for everyone’s support at the hospital. We can’t thank Alex and her entire team on Fortuneswell and Ron enough for what they have done for us.
“From the moment we arrived at the hospital the whole thing was just surreal. We were so taken back by how far they had gone to support us.
“Staff were clapping and wishing us well as we went into the Chapel and they even gave us flowers, champagne and a cake which Waitrose Poundbury had kindly donated. It was just absolutely wonderful.”
On their return home, Tina and Mick were surprised to see their neighbours had all decorated their own houses to celebrate the very special occasion with them.
Tina added: “It really was the perfect day. We all sat in our separate gardens and had tea and cake to celebrate.
“We’ve also asked Ron to come and do a blessing in our garden when the pandemic has passed so we can celebrate our marriage with all our family and friends who couldn’t be here.”
Alex said: “It was an honour for myself and my team to be able to help Tina and Mick organise this very special wedding. Being witness to this was a moment I will always cherish.
Ron added: “It was such a joy and privilege to meet Mick and Tina and to celebrate their marriage.
“My thoughts and prayers will remain with them and my heartfelt thanks go to our wonderful staff who helped make it a special day.”
