CANCER and Covid-19 were no match for a loved-up couple who tied the knot after three decades together - in one of the last weddings before lockdown.

Ken and Linda Slaney, from Benfleet, have known each other since 1988, but only got married in February this year just weeks before the UK was plunged into lockdown.

Mr Slaney, 77, has been fighting prostate and bladder cancer since 2012, and has been isolating with his wife, 73.

The couple decided to use their special day to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support after Ken’s diagnosis, amassing a total of £1,600.

Echo:

Mr Slaney said: “After we moved in together last year, I started to think about proposing but couldn’t find the right time. On September 1 2019, we invited our close friends to our house for a barbecue and that’s when I proposed.

“We were lucky to get our wedding and honeymoon in just before the pandemic hit.”

Linda said: “I told Ken that I had seen a very nice gold necklace and unbeknown to me, he went and bought it as an engagement present.

“When Ken went down on one knee and proposed, it was a complete shock, I didn’t know it was coming. It was lovely, everyone was laughing and in tears.

“I think the diagnosis with the prostate cancer was the most difficult.

“From being a healthy person to having something in your body that is totally alien. We knew nothing at all about prostate cancer.

“The second diagnosis was devastating; especially given we were still dealing with the impact of prostate cancer. It was another cancer that isn’t easily treatable. You go and have a cry, and then you have to get on with it.”

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The couple have lost friends to cancer, but it has inspired Mr Slaney to give back to society.

He said: “Living with cancer made me appreciate life more. It makes you want to seize the day, so when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer I went and bought a new car. It’s looking forward to things that keeps you going. Lin’s support for me has been unbelievable. And we’ve supported each other really – when one is down the other will be upbeat.”

Mrs Slaney added: “Living together has actually gone much better than we expected. We’ve never had rows.

“In a relationship that lasts more than 30 years, there’s never been anything that’s threatened our relationship. Being able to compromise and accept that you can’t always have your own way is a big part of that.”