Shy Bride Gets Wedding Of Dreams After 70 Years

A bride who was too shy to walk up the aisle to marry her sweetheart has finally done it - seventy years later.

Lillian Large refused to tie the knot in church because she could not bear the thought of the walk to the altar.

Instead,she and fiancee Tom decided to tie the knot at a register office in London in 1930.

The pensioner has now finally overcome her fear to walk down the aisle of St Mary's Church in Dorset.

Their daughter Christine Brannan said "He never forgave her for having to marry in a register office,but she was too shy to walk up the cathedral aisle - it was too long."

Lilian,95,made her entrance wearing a cream jersey dress with a fine-pleated chiffon cowl,watched by relatives and friends.

Tom,94,fought back from a brachycardia attack,brought on by a bad reaction to heart drugs,to take part in the ceremony.

The Rev Maddox said "It's a very special occasion that no one will forget.It's heart-rending in the celebration of such commitment and love."

The couple,who live near the church,have six grandchildren and three great grandchildren,will be spending a second honeymoon in Tenerife which will be their first ever trip on an airplane.

Christine said "They met in a cinema when Lilian was with a friend.Three weeks after they met he bought her a three-stone diamond ring as he had already made up his mind."

They courted for five years before getting married and their first honeymoon was spent in Southend.

Lilian said the walk up the aisle had "taken some doing" and put the secret of their long married life down to give and take.

"Don't always expect to have your own way," she said.

Tom replied "I agree with her but I have to."