A terminally ill man from Southampton has married his partner of 26 years in a special lockdown wedding at their home, thanks to Mountbatten Hampshire.

The couple, Simon and Josi, of Bitterne Park, tied the knot in their living room today (Wednesday).

Mountbatten Hampshire has been supporting them at home since January and our chaplain, Reverend Iain McFarlane, officiated the service in full PPE.

“It was such an uplifting moment and it has made us forget about all the other difficult times we have had.

“We never expected it to happen but we are both so overjoyed - it was absolutely perfect and we are still on such a high.”

The couple have been together since 1994 but until recent months, were not planning to get married.

Simon, who celebrates his 61st birthday on Monday, was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and was given the all-clear in 2016, the same day as Josi, 67, was told she had breast cancer.

Simon’s cancer returned in 2017 and last year he was told it was terminal.

“It has been a very difficult few years but this has given us something to look forward to and feel good about.

“We are incredibly thankful to Mountbatten Hampshire because they have been a real lifesaver to us.

“I do not know where we would be without the hospice – they have been a real force of power and they have helped us both so much.”

For Reverend McFarlane, known as Mac, today was very special.

“It was a privilege to marry Simon and Josi in their home and to share such a unique occasion with them,” said Mac.

“They are such a wonderful couple who deserve this moment of happiness and it was an honour to have been given the opportunity to help make it happen.

“From us all at Mountbatten, we would like to say a huge congratulations to them both.”

Because of your donations to our coronavirus appeal, we can still bring joy to people, even in the most challenging of times.

To continue supporting our work, please donate to our Urgent Coronavirus Appeal