Convoy of love

ALL smiles . . . Rachel and John with some of the convoy team (from left) Dave MacDougall, James Brierley, Phil Harwood and Shem McLoughlin

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Mercy mission saves wedding

A volunteer convoy of love saved a young couple’s wedding day at a snow-hammered Saddleworth village.

Rachel Milestone and her groom John McAdorey held their wedding ceremony in Stalybridge — more than five miles from their scheduled reception at the White Hart, Lydgate.

But deep snow and hazardous roads clogged with abandoned cars meant many of the 160 guests would have to cancel plans to join the happy couple for a special celebration evening buffet . . . until a kind-hearted team of locals stepped in.

Headed by members of Saddleworth Round Table, the group heard of the couple’s plight and organised a scratch fleet of 4x4s to ferry guests to the venue.

The convoy included an original 10-seater Land Rover, the latest Range Rover and a luxury Audi Q7.

Former Round Table chairman, Dave MacDougall, who runs a computer business in Grasscroft, contacted club members and friends — some travelling from Leeds and Cheshire — who turned out to support the rescue operation.

They met at Stalybridge Methodist Church and formed a convoy to carry wedding guests, including mothers with babies in arms, toddlers and elderly folk, through snow-shrouded roads to the inn.

The alarm was raised by the bride’s matron of honour, Gauri Taylor-Nayar, who contacted the White Hart just hours before the ceremony after weather had taken a severe downturn.

She said: “It was a nightmare situation. We had all the guests in Stalybridge for the wedding but, because of the treacherous weather, no real idea of how we would get them to the reception.

“The boys who turned up with their vehicles were live-savers. They were wonderful.”

Dave MacDougall, who helped co-ordinate the operation, was joined by Phil Wiggett, Phil Atherton, Keith Lines, James Brierley, Phil Harwood and Shem Mclaughlin.

Said Dave: “Everyone just dropped what they were doing and headed for Stalybridge.

“Road conditions were really treacherous. There was lots of ice and mushed-up snow in the church car park.

“We shepherded the guests to our vehicles, made them comfortable, then headed off through the snows to the White Hart. It was really important they arrived safely.”

Bride Rachel (31), a doctor of music who lives in Uppermill, and John (25), an RAF aircraft engineering technician, who has served in Afghanistan, congratulated the convoy when they arrived at the reception with their relieved guests.

To combat the snowy conditions, Rachel wore a special pair of designer wellies under her long dress, as she travelled in a hired soft-topped wedding car.

She said: “It was a marvellous gesture. We could never have budgeted for such snowy weather but, thanks to the convoy, they got everyone here. I can’t thank the boys enough for all their efforts.

“They are champions. Many of the guests, particularly the elderly and very young would just not have made the reception if it had not been for their efforts.”

Added husband John: “It was like a military operation. Everything went very smoothly.”

Charles Brierley, managing director of the White Hart, said: “The team were absolutely marvellous. They did a terrific job and certainly saved the wedding reception.”