On his wedding day, Tim Sullivan’s much-loved dad suddenly collapsed and died on what should have been the happiest of days. But what he learned has shaped his life
t was all set to be one of the happiest days of my life, 9 September 1989. I was getting married. Everything leading up to the date had gone smoothly. The wedding was taking place in a small church, St Teilo’s in Bishopston Valley on the Gower peninsula. About 130 friends and family had made the trip down to South Wales. After the ceremony, Rachel and I were going to process up the hill from the church to the reception at my in-laws’ home, led by a small jazz band and followed by our guests.
‘As we left the church, my father suddenly collapsed and died in my arms. He was 65, exactly the age I am now as I write this’: Tim with his bride Rachel and his mum and dad My father-in-law sweetly suggested we shouldn’t make speeches. I was horrified by this. I’d spent weeks on mine. There were some great jokes in there and it wasn’t like I’d ever have another opportunity to make it again. When I finally stood up in front of everyone, there was still an air of uncertainty as to how we should behave. I began with: “My father always did have the most remarkable sense of timing.” There was a short pause followed by applause.
When I finally stood up in front of everyone, there was still an air of uncertainty as to how we should behaveFour Weddings and a Funeral
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tim Minchin: ‘Politics affects my mental health … I feel gaslit’He’s the anarchic comedian behind the musicals Matilda and Groundhog Day. He talks about dashed Hollywood hopes, the dangers of modernising Roald Dahl and feeling out of step with his progressive fanbase
Read more »
'Leave now': Assistant foreign affairs minister urges Australians to leave SudanAssistant foreign affairs minister Tim Watts is urging Australian citizens to leave war-torn Sudan now, as "plenty of seats" have been secured on flights out of the country.
Read more »
Dutch court orders sperm donor to stop after 550 childrenNation’s guidelines say no donor should father more than 25 children in 12 families
Read more »
Five people killed in south-east Texas shootingFour pronounced dead at Cleveland house and fifth died in hospital, sheriff’s office says
Read more »
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attends Kyle Sandilands' wedding, despite criticismThe prime minister and the New South Wales premier avoid the media pack outside radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands' wedding, held in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
Read more »
Kyle Sandilands' million-dollar 'fairytale' wedding kicks offSecurity guards and media have swarmed the gates of Kyle Sandilands' lavish wedding as star-studded guests, including his radio co-host Jackie-O, arrive at a mansion in Sydney's Darling Point to watch the couple tie the knot.
Read more »