South Shields great-grandmother who fulfilled final wish for 'fairy tale' Christmas wedding dies after cancer battle

Margaret Gurr, 64, married partner Mick Gurr, 66, in a Christmas-themed wedding on December 21, 2019, following her shock cancer diagnosis.

The couple from Brunswick Street had been together for around 16 years when Margaret was suddenly diagnosed with a rare form of cancer of the bile duct at the end of August, 2019.

Margaret knew her cancer was terminal and the pair decided to wed in a festive ceremony at South Shields registry office before dressing up as Mr and Mrs Claus for a celebration at the Freemasons Hall.

The courageous grandmother underwent chemotherapy to give her as much time with her family as possible, allowing her to meet great-grandson Leo Charlton-Roberts after he was born in June.

Margaret bravely fought the cancer until the end, passing away at home on Friday, August 14, with loved ones by her side.

Daughter Audrey Morley said: “The Christmas-themed wedding was a fairy tale for her.

"Mick had proposed to her before and said they could get married or go to Disneyland and she chose to go to Disneyland!

“She was a big kid at heart and had always wanted to go there, which they did in 2005.”

Mum to Michael Charlton, 45, Audrey Morley, 42, and Sandra Koroglu, 43, Margaret adored her husband and family.

Margaret also had seven grandchildren; Corinne Charlton, 23, Abbie Charlton, 19, Cameron Charlton, 17, Elliott Charlton, 22, Aaron Charlton, 18, Oliver Jordan, 11, and Yusuf Koroglu, four.

Margaret is remembered as being at her happiest when spending time with her family and when walking her three dogs – toy Yorkshire terrier Millie and Chinese Crested dogs Echo and Pumpkin – with Mick.

Brought up in Whitburn, Margaret moved to South Shields with her children and worked as a cleaner for Asda and as a waitress at various cafes and restaurants in the town.

She later met Mick, a retired cruise ship painter and decorator, at Roxanne’s night club in South Shields, with the pair going on to enjoy family time and holidays abroad during their years together.

Daughter Audrey continued: “Everyone knew her little dogs, they were her babies.

"She would take them for walks where she lived with Mick and would talk to everybody on the way round.

"She was a very friendly person.”

Praising Margaret’s strength in the face of her illness, Audrey said: "She never gave up, she fought all the way. She was very courageous.

"She told us she wasn’t going to give up until her last breath and that is what she did.”

Margaret’s funeral will be held at South Shields Crematorium on Friday, August 28.

The service will be for immediate family only but the family say that those wishing to pay their respects are invited to do so outside.

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