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| Gay couples tie the knot at
Town Hall |
Borough’s first same sex weddings
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Brixton police chief Commander Brian Paddick
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CHAMPAGNE and confetti signalled the start of new a era in civil
rights as the first ever gay weddings took place at Camden Town
Hall yesterday (Wednesday).
An early morning reception and buffet helped Camden’s happy
couples relax in time for their historic civil partnerships. Nine
gay and lesbian couples tied the knot in the Town Hall’s council
chamber.
Both in floor-length dresses, one in purple, the other in green
Tess Joseph, 45, and Sarah Bourke, 35, of Kentish Town, exchanged
rings surrounded by family, friends and Rabbi Mark Solomon (all
pictured above), who gave the women a Jewish blessing.
Giving their own stamp to the ceremony, the couple chose Edward
Lear’s The Owl and The Pussycat for one reading, later signing
the register to Dusty Springfield’s The Look of Love.
The couple, who have been together for 11 years, completed the day
with a cocktail and bagel reception. Barrister Sarah, said: “I
asked Tess to marry me 11 years ago. I’m incredibly happy.”
Rabbi Solomon, of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St John’s
Wood, said: “What Tess and Sarah wanted was the blessing we
do on new and significant occasions and also the ceremony of breaking
the glass.” He added it was the synagogue’s policy to
support civil partnerships.
Next on the list were gardener to the US ambassador Peter Rixon,
52, and theatre director Kim Grant, 77.
The couple, who live on Eton College Road, Chalk Farm, will be honeymooning
in Tunisia after Kim made the surprise booking the night before
their wedding.
They met 26 years ago in Hampstead after Kim asked Peter for a light
and have been together ever since.
Peter said: “This is important – it makes us feel more
secure. We were concerned, considering the age difference, that
we’d be left alone financially. Now, at least, my pension would
go to Kim.”
But, he said, the new law has still left some confusion. “We
don’t know what to call ourselves. We don’t know what
boxes to tick on the forms,” he said.
Also at the Town Hall to show his support was Brixton police chief
Commander Brian Paddick.
Cmdr Paddick, who is gay, who was there to lend his support.
He said: “It’s a important development in terms of equality
and it’s important to show support.” |
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