A Chadderton couple who overcame a number of hurdles have proved that nothing gets in the way of true love by finally tying the knot in a special service at a local hospice.
Donna Friar and Mark Davis marked their big day at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice in Royton.
The pair have been together for 11 years – five of which they have been engaged after they met in their local pub, the Colliers Arms – and they became a happy couple thanks to the keen matchmaking skills of both their friends.
The hospice managed to organise the couple’s ceremony within 72 hours to make their wedding dreams come true after various obstacles, including a last-minute postponement, got in the way.
Donna thought she’d ticked all the boxes when she’d arranged to marry Mark Davis – who has been receiving pain management at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice – but when she first turned up for her big day, which she’d planned with the registrar that very morning, she was told that Mark was on strong pain relief, was not fit enough for the ceremony, and that he would prefer to wait to properly mark the occasion the following week.
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Understandably emotional and disappointed, thinking “he didn’t want to marry me”, Donna walked away ready to plan the day again.
Second time round though, she had another worry that the latest local lockdown restrictions would mean they would have to choose between family and friends to keep it to the rule of six, however with help from the hospice staff who contacted Oldham Council, they confirmed that current COVID-19 regulations for weddings state that 20 people are able to attend, as long as it was outside and social distancing measures were observed.
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All that prior disappointment soon changed when the couple finally married just a few days later surrounded by their close family and friends.
Those unable to attend the service also watched via a live stream link monitored by staff nurse, Chloe.
Dr Kershaw’s Hospice
Speaking about the service, Donna said: “It was such a magical day. Words can’t even describe the feeling, we can’t thank all the staff at Dr Kershaw’s enough for organising it for us and making it so special.”
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Mark added that the staff at the hospice had been fantastic in their care for him: “I’ve been looked after so well since being here. The staff at Kershaw’s have been brilliant and have bent over backwards to help me and to make our day so special,”
Hospice Nurse Beth – who has been caring for Mark – said: “Mark and Donna’s wedding day was a true example of what Dr Kershaw’s is all about, making patient’s wishes come true no matter how big or small.
“It was amazing to see how many people came together to pull off their special day, from the nurses and doctors, to the events team, maintenance team, florist, bakery and even our very own Dr Kershaw’s shop who kindly lent our nurses fascinators so staff could look the part.
“I was privileged to be able to get so involved and to make it a day Mark and Donna could cherish forever, especially after being engaged for five years”.
From everyone here at The Manc, we wish Donna and Mark a lifetime of happiness.
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Manchester Airport releases list of its 10 fastest-growing holiday hotspots – including ‘Maldives of Europe’
Emily Sergeant
Holiday season is well underway, and now Manchester Airport has released a list of its 10 fastest-growing beach destinations.
Want to visit somewhere new? Destinations in Portugal, Greece, and Croatia are among the 10 fastest-growing summer holiday hotspots on Manchester Airport’s route network.
Following the completion of the £1.3bn Terminal 2 transformation, and a major project to redevelop Terminal 3 also now in the works, the airport is expecting a record summer season this year, which is why, with a couple of weeks left, a list of the top 10 fastest-growing destinations has been revealed, so if you’re short of some travel inspiration, this is it.
Sunseekers’ favourites are all expected to see extra visitors from Manchester this summer, but other lesser-known destinations are seeing an even greater surge in popularity – with the number of people travelling there this summer versus last summer set to double (or even triple) in some cases.
Manchester Airport has released a list of its 10 fastest-growing holiday destinations / Credit: Marie Volkert | Northleg Official (via Unsplash)
These destinations are spread across the Mediterranean, and all offer a rich blend of sun, sea, sand, history, culture, and foodie delights.
As you’d expect, there are a number of Spanish spots on the list, including the emerging Canary Islands favourite of La Palma, Jerez de la Frontera near the historic city of Cadiz, and the popular Valencia.
Elsewhere, you’ll also find the major cities of Marseille in France, Porto in Portugal, and Verona in Italy on the list, but if you’re keen to visit somewhere a little more off the beaten track, why not try and trip to Zadar in Croatia or Preveza in Greece, which both appear to be growing in popularity.
One of the real stand-out gems on the list though has to be what is dubbed the ‘Maldives of Europe’.
Holiday season is well underway at Manchester Airport / Credit: Ivan Shimko (via Unsplash)
Albania’s capital Tirana is not only a great candidate for a city break, but it’s also the starting point for intrepid explorers seeking out the stunning beaches on the Albanian Riviera – which have become famous on social media over the past couple of years, and have drawn comparisons to the bucket list destination of the Maldives.
“Sometimes, a destination will go viral on social media or see a spike in demand as adventurous travellers discover it,” explained Stephen Turner, who is the Chief Commercial Officer at Manchester Airport. “And we then see that translate into airlines adding extra flights or flying larger aircraft to those destinations to meet that demand.
“We keep our finger on the pulse to analyse these trends and we work with our airline partners to ensure that if a particular destination is in vogue, or emerging as a new favourite, you can get there from Manchester.”
See the full list of stunning destinations and get booking your next trip here.
Featured Image – Nick Karvounis (via Unsplash)
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SpudBros are returning to the Trafford Centre following HUGELY successful debut
Emily Sergeant
Viral internet sensation SpudBros are returning to the Trafford Centre following their hugely successful debut.
Following the ‘overwhelming’ success of their first Trafford Centre residency earlier this summer, the UK’s most-followed jacket potato creators SpudBros are returning to the iconic retail destination for a second pop-up later this month.
Shoppers will once again be able to tuck into freshly prepared, fully loaded jacket potatoes served up in minutes, all without compromising on quality, flavour, or portion size.
The SpudBros – also known as Jacob and Harley Nelson – will, once again, be returning as part of Trafford Centre‘s annual summer fair.
At the pop-up, you’ll be able to pick from fan favourites like the Tram Classic, which is loaded with garlic butter, the signature three-cheese mix, beans, crispy onions, and world-famous ‘tram’ sauce, to the Spudfather topped with chilli con carne, tuna, and coleslaw.
There’s also a range of other flavour-packed options to tuck into, alongside the option to build your own potato, allowing every customer to create their perfect lunch.
“The response to our first week at Trafford Centre was incredible, so we couldn’t be more excited to return,” commented SpudBros co-founder, Jacob Nelson.
Viral internet sensation SpudBros are launching a special pop-up at Trafford Centre this summer / Credit: The Manc Group
“Manchester has always shown us so much support online and it was amazing to finally bring SpudBros to the city. We’re looking forward to serving even more visitors and welcoming back everyone who came to see us the first time around.”
Simon Layton, Centre Director at Trafford Centre, added: “SpudBros was a fantastic addition to our summer line-up and proved hugely popular with our visitors, so we’re delighted to welcome the team back for a second pop-up.”
The SpudBros pop-up will be located outside The Great Hall next week from Monday 24 to Saturday 29 August, serving signature loaded potatoes daily from 12-8pm.
Emily Sergeant -
18th September 2020 
