This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-65882181
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Broken-down Hampshire bus brides praise officers who rescued them | Broken-down Hampshire bus brides praise officers who rescued them |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Jemma (left) and Sian (right) had planned to travel with their guests by coach to the ceremony | Jemma (left) and Sian (right) had planned to travel with their guests by coach to the ceremony |
Two brides who got a lift to their wedding in a police car after their coach broke down said the officers who rescued them went "above and beyond". | Two brides who got a lift to their wedding in a police car after their coach broke down said the officers who rescued them went "above and beyond". |
Jemma and Sian Batchelor-Thomas were on the coach with 20 of their closest family and friends when it broke down in Hedge End on Saturday morning. | Jemma and Sian Batchelor-Thomas were on the coach with 20 of their closest family and friends when it broke down in Hedge End on Saturday morning. |
Officers gave the couple a lift to the ceremony in a police car while others accepted lifts from passing motorists. | Officers gave the couple a lift to the ceremony in a police car while others accepted lifts from passing motorists. |
They said, despite the stressful start to the day, everyone made it on time. | They said, despite the stressful start to the day, everyone made it on time. |
The couple were due to get married in Hampshire at 10:30 BST. | |
The officers said they were in the right place at the right time | The officers said they were in the right place at the right time |
Jemma said: "It was a really intimate service so we booked the coach from the hotel where we were staying so everyone could relax and enjoy the journey. | Jemma said: "It was a really intimate service so we booked the coach from the hotel where we were staying so everyone could relax and enjoy the journey. |
"That obviously didn't happen because after 10 minutes we broke down. | "That obviously didn't happen because after 10 minutes we broke down. |
"The guests thought we were joking. | "The guests thought we were joking. |
"We had about half an hour to get to the registry office but we were still half an hour away." | "We had about half an hour to get to the registry office but we were still half an hour away." |
A wedding guest approached the police car to ask for help | A wedding guest approached the police car to ask for help |
Sian said, despite their predicament, the guests were "very cool calm and collected". | Sian said, despite their predicament, the guests were "very cool calm and collected". |
She said: "One of the bridal party saw the police car and asked them if they could give us a lift." | She said: "One of the bridal party saw the police car and asked them if they could give us a lift." |
Two strangers, who introduced themselves as Mark and Tash, also pulled over and offered a ride to Jemma and Sian's witnesses. | Two strangers, who introduced themselves as Mark and Tash, also pulled over and offered a ride to Jemma and Sian's witnesses. |
Jemma said: "Sian was very calm but I was extremely stressed - I thought 'this is terrible' but now, looking back, we can see the funny side of things. | Jemma said: "Sian was very calm but I was extremely stressed - I thought 'this is terrible' but now, looking back, we can see the funny side of things. |
"Everyone was just so kind and supportive - all the members of the public, the people who gave our witnesses a lift. There were so many nice messages from random people. | "Everyone was just so kind and supportive - all the members of the public, the people who gave our witnesses a lift. There were so many nice messages from random people. |
"Being a same-sex couple, that was massive - there were no negative comments, everyone was so supportive. | "Being a same-sex couple, that was massive - there were no negative comments, everyone was so supportive. |
"It also shows that the police are there to serve as well as to protect the community. Rachel and Lucy [the officers] went above and beyond in their roles." | "It also shows that the police are there to serve as well as to protect the community. Rachel and Lucy [the officers] went above and beyond in their roles." |
In a Facebook post, the officers, from the Hedge End Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "We wish them all the best for a very happy future together and are very happy that we could be there to help." | |
The couple made it to their ceremony with minutes to spare | The couple made it to their ceremony with minutes to spare |
Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
Weddings | Weddings |
Hedge End | Hedge End |
Southampton | Southampton |