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Wedding day was happy ending after ordeal of Coventry

3/ 4/2007

THEY were all smiles as sailor Neil Cryer posed for pictures with his new bride on 7 August.

The 21-year-old from Whitelees Road, Littleborough, married Julie Wood at Middleton Parish Church.

It was a heart-warming end to a harrowing saga which began the night HMS Coventry was attacked.

Julie had gone round to Neil's parents' home and stayed throughout what she described as: "The worst day of my life."

The news Neil had survived uninjured had her weeping with relief. She said: "The whole world was lifted from my shoulders when I heard he was safe."

But Julie then faced the heart-breaking possibility he might not be back home in time for their big day.

Their love story had a happy ending, however, when the QE2 docked at Southampton in mid-June.

The new Mr and Mrs Cryer are pictured with bridesmaids Jill Cryer, Susan Wood and Katheryne and Suzanne Berningham.