Father of the Bride Speech: - Derek told us, “You helped my wife and I to let our daughter know how proud and happy we are for her and her new husband, I felt the speech was perfect”.

This is the first time I have given a speech in a long while, come to think of it is the first time I have said anything and been listened to since my last speech in May 1955, my wedding day. The first time I practiced this speech in front of the mirror I thought it was someone else talking.

Ladies and Gentlemen we all know why we are here today .... We are here celebrating the love my daughter Grace and my new son in law Alec, have for each other ..... Thank you all for joining on this beautiful wedding day!

This marriage not only brings together Grace and Alec, but also our families, my wife Elsie and I have had the great pleasure of getting to know Pat and Rob, Alecs’ parents. I am happy to say we have become firm friends.... Elsie and I would like to say how happy we are to become in-laws ......and to share the costs of this wedding with you ... but more importantly to share our families and lives.....

Alec and Grace complement each other, Grace never shuts up and Alec is a quiet man.... this should keep him out of trouble and make all our lives easier. Alec and Grace have shown us that young people of today can have it all..... they work hard, play hard and love each other whole heartedly, I am proud to say Grace and Alec really do appreciate how blessed they are to have found each other.

From the moment Grace was born she has done what it says on the tin ...... she has graced our lives with laughter, the odd tear and tantrum but mostly love, happiness and masses of pride. Looking at her today radiant in her dress reminds me how as a child she loved dressing up as a Walt Disney princess. Grace ...... those princess dresses went to your head!

I once came home to find her brother Joe with his head and legs tied up and poking out between the dining chair spindles... he was tied up with her innocent pink ribbons. When I asked why, Grace told me he was in the stocks for stealing, when I asked what he had stolen Grace replied all in one breath...... Your Majesty my father the King it doesn’t matter ....... you always said stealing is stealing!

Alec be warned nothing gets past Grace, if the wedding dress comes out after today .... run!

As you all probably know Grace works in a nursing home and in contradiction of her princess alter ego last year the organisation she works for gave her an award titled, The Golden Dignity Award. This award was given to Grace because ... I quote....

”Grace has looked after the elderly residents in a caring, warm, dignified, humane and compassionate manner”......

I wanted to mention this because of the immense pride and love I felt as a father for my daughter and to me it creates a picture of what and who Grace is.

Alec what can I say ... Elsie and I have known you now for four years and not once have we worried about Grace being with you. If Grace could shine more she does it when she is with you ....you have come into our lives and fitted right in......I was going to give you some wise advise but what came to mind was a quote you read to me.

You read this to me on your stag night.......

“When marrying, ask yourself this question: do you believe that you will be able to converse well with this person into your old age? Everything else in marriage is transitory”

After Alec read this quote I laughed and said …. How the heck can you converse with someone who doesn’t come up for air? …Alec replied by saying “Grace has so much to say that I want to listen to ….. she is my air”

This left me with no wise words of my own to add, so I found one in a book…. of Alecs’ ….. it says:

‘There is no remedy for love but to love more’, Henry D Thoreau

Now ….. I don’t know who the heck Henry D Thoreau is but he echoes my sentiments perfectly!

Ladies and Gentlemen if you will all please stand and raise your glasses in a toast to Grace and Alec

to wish them a very long and happy married life together and if it is possible ….. to love more.

Grace and Alec