Sheffield couple of 20 years finally tie the knot thanks to hard work of hospice staff

Elaine and Paul Medley enjoyed their wedding day at St Luke’s Hospice, in a ceremony that went ahead thanks to a special dispensation from the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Elaine has terminal cancer and is currently receiving support on the In Patient Centre at Sheffield’s only hospice.

And when the Handsworth couple decided that they finally wanted to marry after more than 20 years together, the St Luke’s team put all their efforts into making it a day for the whole family to remember.

With Sheffield Register Office and the city’s churches all closed by the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the St Luke’s chaplaincy team had to apply to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Facility Office for a special licence for the ceremony to go ahead in the St Luke’s Garden Room.

“It’s all been absolutely wonderful and if it hadn’t been for St Luke’s it would never have happened,” said Elaine, a former nursing auxiliary.

“After more than 20 years together, I don’t think we’re going to part with each other now and we just felt now was the right time to finalise things and make sure that everything was properly done.

“It was something we’ve always wanted to do but it always seemed to get placed on the back burner.

“I’d been told that if I got to St Luke’s I should mention getting married there but I never thought it would happen because of COVID-19 and everything coming to a standstill.

“But when it was mentioned again, St Luke’s set the ball rolling, we spoke to the St Luke’s chaplain Mike Reeder who contacted all the right people and it’s just amazing that it’s actually happened.”

With the whole of St Luke’s working together, staff prepared the garden room for the ceremony, while the St Luke’s catering staff also created a wedding cake for the couple.

Between them, Elaine and former police officer Paul have nine children and nine grandchildren.

A small party of guests were able to attend the ceremony, with everybody observing strict social distancing guidelines and wearing protective equipment.

“I have beaten cancer twice but now it has spread and I know there is nothing more that can be done and that’s why this day meant so much to us all,” said Elaine.

“St Luke’s is like a wonderful friendly hotel where nothing is too much trouble for anybody.

“I must admit that I was frightened to come in as I didn’t know what to expect but from the minute I walked through the door everybody made me feel so very welcome.

“The fact that their support made our wedding happen is absolutely amazing and it’s a day none of us will ever forget.”