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Golden pair led way at Sacred Heart

Alice McKeegan
15/12/2007

HUNDREDS of couples have followed in the footsteps of Kevin and Joyce McGawley.

They were the first couple to marry at Sacred Heart Church and, 50 years later, they’re still together.

Their happy day on Saturday 30 November, 1957, was celebrated in style with guests from across the country attending the ceremony.

Mr McGawley, of Clover Hall Crescent, served in the Household Cavalry between 1955 and 1958.

Some of his friends from the Army travelled to form a guard of honour outside the church and greeted the couple by forming an archway with their riding stocks.

Mrs McGawley (nee Challinor) was given away by her brother-in-law, John Power, and wore a nylon lace dress, trimmed with diamantes. She carried a stunning bouquet of red roses and was attended by her bridesmaids June Challinor, Kathleen McGawley, Eileen McGawley, Norah McGawley and Barbara Power.

Trooper Stewart George discharged the duties of best man and the groomsmen, who also provided the guard of honour, were Corporal Trundell and Troopers Brown, Perkins, Fairchild, Driver and Smith.

The ceremony was officiated by Father Flynn and, following their marriage, the happy couple enjoyed a honeymoon in Ireland.

Since then, the church has staged countless weddings and, in September, the parish celebrated its golden jubilee.

Mr and Mrs McGawley, now aged 70 and 72, were invited back to the parish by Father David O’Kane to celebrate the occasion and their golden wedding anniversary.

Mr McGawley said: “We’re both still together and we’re both in good health.

“When we went to the church to see Father Flynn, he said that if we married in the morning then we’d be the first couple to marry there. It was a great honour and it was wonderful to go back to the church and meet all those people this year. It brought back a lot of happy memories.”

The couple now live in Shawforth and celebrated their anniversary with a party at Whitworth Civic Hall which was attended by 80 members of their family and friends.