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| Big Issue vendor marries woman he gave 50p for meter | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A couple whose romance blossomed after he asked her for money - and she burst into tears - have got married. | |
| Jack Richardson was begging in Bristol in 2013 when he asked Toni Osborne for some spare change. | |
| She broke down because at the time she could not afford electricity - so he gave her 50p for the meter and the pair kept in touch. | She broke down because at the time she could not afford electricity - so he gave her 50p for the meter and the pair kept in touch. |
| Now a Big Issue seller, he proposed at his Park Street pitch in November. She said "her heart burst". | |
| Listen: Jack and Toni describe their romance | Listen: Jack and Toni describe their romance |
| The couple met two years ago, just before the groom says he was was "badged up" to sell the Big Issue and was "still having to spot-beg every day". | The couple met two years ago, just before the groom says he was was "badged up" to sell the Big Issue and was "still having to spot-beg every day". |
| He said: "I asked her for money, it was just before Christmas and she burst into tears. She didn't have quite enough to put the lights on over Christmas, so I gave her enough to put the lights on. | He said: "I asked her for money, it was just before Christmas and she burst into tears. She didn't have quite enough to put the lights on over Christmas, so I gave her enough to put the lights on. |
| "After I got badged up, she had an appointment at the bottom of the hill, so I saw her every week." | "After I got badged up, she had an appointment at the bottom of the hill, so I saw her every week." |
| They kept in touch and she offered him a roof when the room in which he was sleeping in an underground car park got boarded up. | They kept in touch and she offered him a roof when the room in which he was sleeping in an underground car park got boarded up. |
| Mr Richardson said they then "fell for each other head-over-heels". | Mr Richardson said they then "fell for each other head-over-heels". |
| Two years on, the couple have been busy preparing for their big day and have had numerous offers of help to organise the wedding. | Two years on, the couple have been busy preparing for their big day and have had numerous offers of help to organise the wedding. |
| "We've had money put by for a dress for Toni, [Big Issue] customers have offered to bake cakes for the wedding," he said. | "We've had money put by for a dress for Toni, [Big Issue] customers have offered to bake cakes for the wedding," he said. |
| The couple had initially planned a registry office ceremony until a vicar Mr Richardson met at a soup kitchen offered to do the service free of charge. | The couple had initially planned a registry office ceremony until a vicar Mr Richardson met at a soup kitchen offered to do the service free of charge. |
| Other people helping out include wine merchants, photographers, hairdressers and a man "about his size" who offered an Armani suit to borrow. | Other people helping out include wine merchants, photographers, hairdressers and a man "about his size" who offered an Armani suit to borrow. |
| Mr Richardson said: "I wanted to give my beloved the wedding she deserved but I couldn't. Thanks to the kindness of people I've now been able to." | |
| A Big Issue spokesperson said: "We're really happy for Jack and Toni. It's lovely to have a good news story from one of our vendors." | A Big Issue spokesperson said: "We're really happy for Jack and Toni. It's lovely to have a good news story from one of our vendors." |
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