Guards’ sword honour for Whaley bride

The vows: Melanie and Chris with Rev Cheri Pinner

A guard of honour raised a salute of silver swords for Whaley Bridge Army nurse Melanie Lath as she was  married to Light  Dragoons corporal Chris Dyke. 

Swords of honour welcome bride Melanie and her dad Jeremy

Melanie and Chris first met in Canada, while on separate Army training courses.  As boy and girlfriend they met up again as each served miles apart in  war-torn Afghanistan. The Light Dragoons  are due to serve  in Afghanistan again next summer.

Bright sunshine shone off   the  six man guard of honour’s swords and silver spurs, which added to the smartness of their  dark blue dress uniforms and red caps.  They welcomed Melanie and her father Jeremy, with seven bridesmaids, at the gateway to St James’s church, Taxal – and later, as the service finished, with the full arch of swords.

Two of Melanie’s bridesmaids, Rachel Simmons and Hannah Hardman, had attended Taxal and Fernilee primary school with Melanie. The groom comes from Rugeley, Staffs.

The happy couple after the service in St James

The reception was held at the Old Hall, where the bride’s father is executive head chef.  After a short honeymoon, the couple will return to their home near Northallerton, north Yorkshire.  They ran in the Great North race on Sunday 18 Sept.  Melanie and Chris  are planning a full honeymoon cruise from Mexico, starting on Boxing Day.