A SERIOUSLY ill patient was helped from his hospital bed so he could fulfil his 20-year dream of marrying his partner.

A special licence was granted by the registrar so that John Hunt and Trish Tilley could wed in a room off the ward where he is being treated.

The couple, of Musgrove Road, Taunton, first met at nearby Musgrove Park Hospital, where the ceremony was hurriedly arranged in a staff room.

They first met in the 1990s at Musgrove, where John, now 77, worked as a porter until his retirement four years ago, and Trish, 55, still works in the pharmacy.

“It was so emotional and we both shed a few tears,” said Trish, who wore a cream trouser suit for the occasion.

“We thought it might never happen after being together so long – we’ve never been able to afford it, but it felt right now that John is so ill and it’s really cheered him up.”

John, who has a heart condition, changed out of his pyjamas into his suit for the wedding, conducted by the registrar, with the hospital chaplain blessing the rings.

“It feels great being married at long last and I’m grateful to Jackee Phillips (the sister on Fielding Ward) for organising everything so we had a beautiful day,” said Trish.

Her colleague Loretta Cashin made the wedding cake, while catering staff at Musgrove laid on a spread.

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said: “There is special legislation to allow the Registrar General to grant an urgent licence which allows a couple to marry when one of them is seriously ill.

“The process can be completed within a few hours of the request being received, provided that specific criteria are met.

“Once the licence is granted the marriage can then take place from that moment on, at any time of the day or night, but it must take place in the specified location. This licence is valid for one month.”