Hebburn Helps hero surprises husband with emotional wedding vows ceremony in garden

Angie Comerford, who co-founded Hebburn Helps food bank on Campbell Park Road, and her husband Stephen were due to renew their wedding vows last week, 10 years after they first said ‘I do’.

It came after Stephen surprised Angie by proposing - for the second time - in March 2019, while the couple were taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks in a fundraising trek for Ushaw Moor youngster Lyla O’Donovan who was battling a brain tumour.

The 45-year-old got down on one knee as the pair reached the top of Roseberry Topping in the North York Moors and they promised to renew their vows to mark their 10-year wedding anniversary on Friday, May 29.

The couple had planned a big ‘glamping’ event with all their friends and family, for the special day and were devastated when the coronavirus outbreak meant they had to cancel.

But Angie, who has been delivering thousands of food packages and hot meals to vulnerable residents during the crisis, decided to surprise Stephen instead, with a ceremony in their back garden.

“We were due to get our wedding blessed for our 10th anniversary with all our family and friends, but obviously with everything going on we couldn’t,” said the 43-year-old.

“I thought I’ve really got to do something to make it special – if we can’t go to the wedding, I’ll bring the wedding to us.”

A local florist transformed Angie’s garden into a wedding reception and the couple’s friend led the emotional ceremony, while keeping to social distancing rules.

Angie’s daughter, Jordan, 25, decorated the house on Walsh Avenue with love notes for Stephen to follow when he arrived home, leading him to the garden where Angie was waiting.

“Stephen had no idea, he was in total shock when he got home,” added Angie, who wore a floor-length yellow dress.

“It was a perfect day. With everything that is going on it was just nice to do something to make him smile – I can’t believe I pulled it off.”

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