Couple's tear-jerking wedding vows renewal (From Thurrock Gazette)

Couple's tear-jerking wedding vows renewal

7:30am Monday 3rd September 2012 in News

A COUPLE from South Ockendon have renewed their wedding vows after receiving devastating news.

Barry Gore, 54, was diagnosed with a lethal malignant cancer caused by asbestos in May, so he and his wife Kathleen, also 54, decided to celebrate their love by re-marrying in the sun-soaked grounds of Orsett Hall in June.

In an act of heartwarming gratuity, Orsett Hall hired out one of their wedding suites to the couple at a heavily discounted rate while the company that Barry works for, Loughton-based Aitch Care Homes, forked out a four-figure sum to help pay for the bash.

More than 200 family members and friends celebrated with Kathy and Barry as they declared an eternal love for each other, almost 12 years after tying the knot for the first time.

It was after returning from holiday in March that Barry, a carpenter, went to the doctors with what he thought was a chest infection. After a series of tests, he was diagnosed with a rare type of lung cancer called mesothelioma.

Thurrock has the fourth highest death rate of mesothelioma in the UK. It is thought Barry contracted the illness around 37 years ago when he was working as a carpentry apprentice fitting asbestos to fire doors, with it lying dormant in his lungs all that time.

During the diagnosis at Basildon Hospital on May 10, Barry was told he would only have between six and 18 months to live.

The couple moved to ensure the ceremony was fun and jovial, despite being deeply emotional.

Kathleen said: “We decided to renew out vows once we found out Barry had the cancer.

“It was fabulous, everything we could have wished for. Orsett Hall were amazing, as were JC Cars who arranged our limousine.

“My sister, who lives in New Zealand, couldn’t get over here at short notice, but I took my laptop so she could see the ceremony over Skype. It was very emotional but great fun at the same time.

“We didn’t want it to be a sad ceremony. We wanted it to be a celebration. I can’t thank Orsett Hall, JC Cars or ACH enough.”