Cancer patient marries partner in Derby care home ceremony

A special licence for the care home wedding was granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury

A man with incurable cancer has married his partner of 18 years after a ceremony at his care home.

Jeff Thomas has been living at Abbeydale Nursing Home in Derby since September after being diagnosed with incurable lung cancer in 2019.

The 72-year-old popped the question to Pauline Murray in March, and a special licence for the wedding was granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Pauline, also 72, said Jeff was her second "soul mate".

The happy couple thanked care home staff for hosting the wedding

Mr and Mrs Thomas first met on a blind date in a pub nearly two decades ago after the death of Pauline's first husband Jack.

The happy couple had endured weeks apart after the coronavirus pandemic put a halt to visits to the home, where Mr Thomas lives to help with treatment for his condition.

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After finally tying the knot on Wednesday, they said they look forward to enjoying as much time together as possible.

"I think it's a nice sensation to be actually married," said Mr Thomas.

"I just love her and adore her."

The pair met on a blind date at a pub

The new Mrs Thomas said the wedding had been "a magical day".

"It's nice to know I've got his name," she said.

"We've loved each other like [a married couple] from the beginning.

"I just want him for a bit longer if I can."