NOTES ON
1973, Malcolm and Angela's wedding
http://comp.uark.edu/~dsears/photos/Eileen73wedding/
Dad is conspicuously absent from Malcolm and Angela’s
wedding. He was in hospital, struggling
with severe depression. And when he was
not in mental hospital, he was in a hospital in Woolwich having heart surgery;
I assume a bypass.
Malcolm and Angela’s wedding was handled almost entirely
by Angela’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lury, the vicar and his wife. He conducted the service in Bristol Cathedral;
they held the reception at their home.
Without warning – for I was never asked to be best man – I was asked to
make a speech. I did. And I read congratulatory messages from
absentees.
For me Dad’s absence
hung over the ceremony, however hard I tried to be happy for Malcolm. I suspect Mum felt the same.