'We married after 15 years to make memories'

Jo Johnson and Terry Smith sit together on a sofa. Jo has short grey hair and wears a green jumper with a white shirt underneath. Terry has short grey hair, glasses and a blue shirt. He has his arm around Jo.Luke Deal/BBC

Jo Johnson and Terry Smith tied the knot after 15 years together

Alice Cunningham
Suffolk

An 86-year-old man with dementia has married his long-time girlfriend so he can still remember their special day before his condition worsens.

Terry Smith and Jo Johnson, 91, from Kessingland in Suffolk, have been together 15 years and had always planned to get married.

But when Mr Smith was diagnosed two years ago, they decided to skip their engagement and bring forward their wedding.

Now Mr and Mrs Smith, they were wed at Lowestoft Registry Office on Friday surrounded by family.

"I've wanted to [get married] for a long time, but I've never said anything because he's been unwell," Mrs Smith told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"He's still ill, but he's happy and we're always walking around the house and singing."

Terry and Jo sit in chairs in a registry office. Terry wears a black suit, pink shirt, blue floral tie and glasses. He looks away from the camera and has one hand in Jo's. Jo wears a light purple dress with floral patterns on it. She is smiling at the camera.Contributed

The bride and groom were wed on Friday at 13:00 GMT in Lowestoft

The couple had initially been introduced by Mrs Smith's daughter, Vicky Sartain, six years after Mrs Smith lost her previous husband.

Initially Mrs Smith did not feel enough time had passed to start another relationship.

"She was so full of life and really upbeat, so she needed to share her love and she needed a companion," Ms Sartain said.

Mr Smith jokingly added: "She didn't want to know me when I first met her. I don't know [why]."

Jo is pictured walking down the aisle of a registry office with one arm looped in her grandson's. He wears a black suit with a white shirt underneath and he looks at his grandmother. Two women follow them behind. Contributed

Mrs Smith was walked down the aisle by her grandson

The couple have not looked back since, and on Friday, which was also her birthday, Mrs Smith was given away by her grandson Adam.

"I'm very proud of them both, it is an amazing thing they're doing," Ms Sartain said.

"I didn't have to convince them too much because once the dementia kicked in all he wanted to do was marry her.

"Every day for months [he said], 'I want to marry your mum, I want to marry your mum'."

Registrar David Hunter said it was a "special" ceremony for a special couple and it might be the oldest couple he had had the privilege of marrying.

"I've been on a journey with this couple," he said.

"I first met them well over a year ago when they came in to inquire about how they get married... they've become almost good friends to me."

Love wins: Couple aged 91 & 86 say ‘I Do’

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