Announcements

FOLLOWING their wedding at St Mary’s Church, Slaley, a couple went on safari in Kenya’s Masi Mara followed by a visit to Mombasa.
The bridegroom was Peter Forster, the son of Alan and Mar Forster, of Lowes Fell, Lowgate in Hexham. Educated at Haydon Bridge High School, he completed a BA in business management at Teesside University. He now farms the family’s sheep and beef farm at Lowes Fell.
The bride was Rachel Dart, the daughter of Barry and Susan Dart, of The Flothers, Slaley. Having attended Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School she went on to study at Northumbria University for a BSc Hons in quantity surveying. Now ATT qualified, she works for chartered accountants Patricia J. Arnold and Co in Hexham.
Given away by her father, the bride wore an Audrey Hepburn inspired satin dress with a trumpet skirt. The bodice featured a sweetheart neckline with a boat neckline organza overlay and open v-neck back. It was complemented by a lace jacket and pearl and diamante detailed belt and the bride also wore pearl and diamante hair pins in her hair.
She carried a bouquet of lime green hydrangea and orchids, ruby red roses, mango calla lilies, orange celosia and red hypericum berries, designed by family friend, Gwen Foster.
The bride’s best friend Gemma Ridley was bridesmaid as were the bridegroom’s sister, Suzanne Forster, and the bride’s cousins Sophie and Katie Shield.
They wore asymmetric flame red long dresses and carried bouquets of ruby red roses, mango calla lilies and lime green orchids and chrysanthemums, also designed and created by Gwen Foster.
The best man was the bridegroom’s friend, Gavin Boyd, and ushers were the bride’s brother, Andrew Dart and friends of the bride and bridegroom, David Kennedy, William Armstrong and Stephen Armstrong.
The ceremony was conducted by the Rev. David Irvine and hymns and music included Jerusalem, I vow to thee my country, Lord of all hopefulness and The Lord’s my shepherd, accompanied by organist Shirley Nixon.
As the bride is a member of the choir Shirley’s Girls, they sang The Rose and Love changes everything during the signing of the register.
Friends of the bride, Jill Webdale and Emma Ballantyne gave readings and friend of the couple, Edward Furlong, who also provided the wedding car, read The Farmer’s Poem.
The church was decorated in a harvest festival theme with vibrant red, lime green and orange flowers, corn and crab apples by the bridegroom’s aunts, Margaret and Linda Ogle.
As the newly-weds left the church their friends formed a pitch-fork guard of honour.
The reception was held in a marquee on the front lawn of De Vere Slaley Hall and was decorated by florist and family friend, Gwen Foster.
The bridegroom’s mother made the cake which was decorated by the bridegroom’s aunt Margaret Ogle and a friend of the bride’s family Phylis Scott in the shape of suitcases featuring badges of the countries the newlyweds have visited.
Photograph by Kerry Robson