'Loved up' couple renew wedding vows on Valentine's Day after dementia takes precious memories
A 'loved-up' couple in their eighties have renewed their vows on Valentine's Day after dementia robbed them of their treasured memories.
Donald and Margaret Worsnop, who are both 86 and from Preston, and their family believe that they originally tied the knot at Broughton Church.
The couple, who met in the early eighties, also had their wedding registered at Preston Registry Office on July 9, 1983. They now live at Lancashire County Council run Lady Elsie Finney House and are still "very much in love".
But the grandparents, who both suffer from dementia, don't remember the original day.
They held a blessing today at the home with Father Peter Draper, on the most romantic day of the year, to create new memories.
After the ceremony, guests including family members and other care home residents, enjoyed lunch with bagpipe music by Ryan Guthrie, followed by singer Theresa Harper who sang them love songs from the 1980s.
Donald has three children and five grandchildren, while Margaret has one daughter, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Kelly Evans, manager at the Preston home, said: "They are very much loved up and share everything.
"Donald gets the paper every day and Margaret takes it to him – and reads it first. They share the paper out and read parts each.
"The couple love listening to bagpipe music and always enjoy this so we chose that as something they love. Their 'first dance' will be to a love song performed by Theresa Harper.
"We made them a two-tier wedding cake and their favourite meal, a roast chicken dinner, for after the ceremony.”
County Councillor Graham Gooch, cabinet member for adult social care, said: "It's so lovely to hear about Donald and Margaret living their best lives at one of Lancashire County Council's care homes, Lady Elsie Finney House.
"We know that our staff go above and beyond wherever they can and arranging a blessing for Donald and Margaret is a wonderful idea, to help the couple, their family and other residents to enjoy making more happy memories together.
"Our heartfelt wedding wishes for the happy couple from all of us at Lancashire County Council."