Announcements

Richard James Johnstone Pilkington – Lucy Claire Barker
A HONEYMOON following South Africa’s beautiful Garden Route followed the wedding of Richard James Johnstone Pilkington and Lucy Claire Barker.
The bride is the daughter of David and Mary Barker, of Hexham.
A former pupil of Sacred Heart Comprehensive School in Newcastle, she attended Manchester University and currently works for the Civil Service.
The bridegroom is the son of Beryl Pilkington of Warwickshire.
He attended Rossall School, and Birmingham and Newcastle universities, and is a qualified dentist and doctor.
Given away by her father, the bride wore an ivory silk halter-neck dress with crystal beading.
In her hair she wore a tiara and veil decorated with crystals, and she carried a shower bouquet of ivory and dusky pink roses and freesia.
The bride’s sisters Angela Kingsbury and Lorraine Stabrun Smith, and friend Kerry Gill were bridesmaids.
They wore three-quarter length plum chiffon dresses with a lavender silk sash, and carried bouquets of ivory roses and lilac freesia.
Caitlin France, the bridegroom’s niece, was flowergirl. She wore an ivory satin pleated dress and carried a posy of flowers which matched the bridesmaids’ bouquets.
The best man was the bridegroom’s friend Jimmy Hunn. Ben Keating and Lindsay Boullin, both friends of the bridegroom, were ushers.
The wedding service took place at St Mary’s Church in Hexham and was led by Father Christopher Warren.
Hymns included Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven and Jerusalem, led by St Mary’s Church Choir with music provided by organist Paul Berry.
St Mary’s was decorated in flowers to match the bride’s bouquet and a reception was held at Matfen Hall.
Guests also enjoyed a ceilidh featuring the Northern Lights band, followed by a disco into the small hours.