1:00pm Tuesday 24th July 2007
By Alex Townley
A WEDDING which was almost cancelled by Friday's flooding was saved by the sheer determination of family and friends of the bride and groom.
Rob Birchley, from Matchborough, was due to marry Julie Bayley-Amor on Saturday at St Laurence Church, Beoley, and about 100 people were invited to a reception at Arrow Mill Hotel, Alcester.
But Rob had a rude awakening on Saturday morning when an usher who was staying at the hotel called to say the venue was flooded.
Panic followed but by 8.30am, the Foxlydiate Arms had accepted the challenge of producing a three-course meal for more than 50 guests and a hot buffet for later in the evening.
The vicar at St Laurence agreed to push the service back by several hours to allow guests stuck in traffic time to reach the church.
And the bride's boss, Kate Cheeseborough, called local radio stations, who announced the change of time and venue for anyone en route, while family and friends called evening guests to tell them of the change of plan.
Bridesmaids endured a nine-hour journey from Leeds and Margaret Birchley, the groom's mother, was stranded between Henley and Mappleborough Green when her engine flooded on the way to the station to collect them. Luckily, a passing 4x4 towed her car to safety and all guests made it to the church on time, including one who had driven all the way from Newbury, Berkshire.
Other volunteers waded through the reception room at the Arrow Mill to retrieve party decorations and redecorated the new venue.
Margaret was delighted with the way the day worked out.
She said: "The rain stopped and it was a fabulous day. Because of the circumstances, everybody pulled together.
"The manageress at the Foxlydiate, Val, pulled out all the stops for us. Everything was beautifully set out and the staff were lovely.
"A wonderful wedding came out of what could've been a disaster."
The happy couple are now safely on honeymoon.
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