60 years ago, July 1st 1966, Erskine and I were married in St Anne's Anglican Church, Fox Hill, Nassau, Bahamas.
The priest, Father King, told me he didn't believe in a bride being late for her wedding so he wouldn't marry us if I was late! Imagine how frantic I was when the limousine Erskine had booked for me and the Father Giver, Erskine's boss Mr Ashton, didn't turn up for me on time!
Fortunately, a good friend of Erskine's, Levi Wilson, stopped by to see if I needed any help. I told him just get me to the church on time please!
We sped down Village Road in Levi's beat up old car, along the Eastern Road, with me in full bridal attire, brown paper packages in the back and Levi wearing an old straw hat! Bystanders stood on the side of the road, staring at the spectacle, aghast!
I also have a photo of me picking up my skirts and running into the church! Luckily, I got there in time!
It was a very hot day and there was no air conditioning in the church. Erskine passed his crisp white handkerchief around between him, the priest and best man/best friend George Cartwright, to wipe their brows! I had just had the front of my long hair cut into bangs - big mistake!
But It was a lovely wedding with special guests from out of town - my mother, grandmother and Erskine's parents in attendance. It wasn't even dampened by the sight of the tardy limousine driver waving his fist at us as we exited the church, claiming we had told him the wrong time for my pick up!
Afterwards we drove down Bay Street in a motorcade with horns blaring, heading to the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre for the Reception. That evening we would be driven to the airport for our honeymoon flight to Jamaica, with a first-class upgrade courtesy of British Airways employee and friend of Erskine's, Jerome Darville.
Look out for the final (eighth) episode of our series "Secrets to a Successful Relationship" (tiktok and youtube - youngheartsforever)! For the seven previous episodes - Part One (How we met); Part Two (How we got serious); Part Three (How we got more serious); Part Four (The Engagement); Part Five (The Wedding Preparation); Part Six (The Wedding); and Part Seven (The Honeymoon), look for the red rose on the videos!
