Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Holy wedlockdown! Couples desperate to tie the knot today
Mousetrap to kick off West End’s return ‘Time to show gratitude with NHS pay rise’
COUPLES can finally say “I do” in front of family and friends for the first time since lockdown today – albeit in a very different style than they imagined.
Weddings will be limited to 30 people and reception parties are limited to six people outdoors, support bubbles or two households.
Despite the restrictions some couples say getting married is the only thing that matters.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest around
73,600 weddings and civil partnerships in
England have been postponed since lockdown measures began in March.
However, Sarah Williams and Richard Cunningham had been planning their July 4 wedding for two years and decided to hold firm to the date – and the gamble paid off.
Software engineer Richard says: “We have a great affinity with the date – I’ve a lot of American family, Sarah lived in America for two years, and we found the 4th July quite ironic.
“We wanted that date, we just wanted to get married – even if we could only have five people we said we
would go ahead. If we pushed it back a month or a year we could be in the same situation. It was a roller coaster of emotions.”
Originally the couple were going to have 100 guests in the church and 150 for the evening reception.
“A lot of people who are coming are involved in the ceremony as in bridesmaids, ushers, people doing readings and family.
So we have only got an extra couple of friends coming. In the end it was quite easy as there were only a few spaces.” Hospitality consultant Sarah, 39, and Richard will still say their vows in Ingestre Church near Stafford.
Their reception venue is closed, but they have been allowed use of the gardens for photographs. And they have booked a table at a pub for drinks. Richard says: “Sarah’s dad is in her bubble so he is able to walk her down the aisle. We have still got the wedding suits and Sarah has her dress.
“We just want to be positive about the day.”
THE Mousetrap will be the first show to reopen in London’s West End after the shutdown.
But the murder-mystery at St Martin’s Theatre will make big changes from October 23.
Scenes will be altered so the cast can socially distance – and every other row in the 550-seat site will be removed.
Shows will run for 170 to
200 people, depending on the size of the groups coming.
Producer Adam Spiegel said: “For the vast majority of productions, social distancing is not possible.
“We are fortunate we are able to adapt our economic model to be able to re-open.
“Whilst this cannot be a long-term exercise, it is a crucial first step in restoring live theatre.”
UNIONS and health bodies are demanding a pay rise for NHS staff who battled Covid-19.
An open letter with 14 signatories – include Unison, the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of
Midwives, GMB and Unite – was sent to the Government on the eve of the NHS’S 72nd birthday.
The current deal expires next April but they want a new one to start this year.
Unison head of health Sara Gorton said it was time to show “appreciation”.
Unions argue that beyond the pandemic, staff are due a rise and the three-year deal agreed in 2018 was the start of making up for pay freezes and wage caps under austerity.