Royal Wedding

Well the wedding of Princess Kelly to the Earl of Streatham is done and dusted and what an event it was. A great night was had by all and I would like to thank all the Aussies who came to celebrate with Kelly. We really appreciated it and the Tidman's were impressed by us all, so well done. I have included my speech for those who are interested as well some photos taken during on the night. Lots more on facebook but can't wait for the professional's.





Good evening, Sue and I would like to welcome you tonight to this great event, Kelly & Mart’s wedding. I am privileged to be the first speaker tonight and I am sure others will also welcome you, but I take this opportunity to thank you all for coming, especially the Aussie contingent, Melissa and Bill from the US and of course Nicole and Kim.
Four and a half years ago Sue and I sat on the shore of Botany Bay and waved a teary goodbye to the flying kangaroo taking Kelly, along with Kim and Nicole, on their long planned adventure.
As Kelly had always been with us, up until that time, apart from a couple of Bali holidays, we had some apprehension about what the future would hold for her. How would she cope without us?
But Kelly’s regular calls and weekly emails put our minds at rest that all was going well and Sue and I were commencing our caravan travels at the same time, so this was to keep us occupied.
Less than a year later we were on our way to London to confirm for ourselves and we were so pleased to find our daughter successfully employed, making lots of great friends through house sharing and work and finding her way around London with her trusty A to Z.
We met a lot of these friends and colleagues, many of you are here tonight, and you really made us welcome and we were pleased to see the support and affection you showed for Kelly.
We were fortunate to coincide our visit to London, with the EY Red Nose fund raising event, meeting many of Kelly’s EY friends and enjoying a karaoke performance not to forget.
We have always been very proud of Kelly and we left London feeling very relaxed, that Kelly was in control, had great friends and was coping fine without us and she would be home in a little over twelve months, or so we thought.
But then things started to change,
Firstly, EY agreed to sponsor Kelly to stay on with them, and a five year working visa was arranged. Of course Sue and I were wholly in support of this as a great opportunity for Kelly, even though we would continue to miss her.
Secondly, and more concerning, was the call from Kelly to let us know she had met a boy……… in a pub called the “Cock” ……..and he was pretty spunky.
Over the following months we heard more and more about Mart and realised a serious relationship was developing. We saw lots of face book photos of them together and the weekly email reports described their adventures. Sue and I were happy that Kelly was happy and Mart was obviously besotted by her charms.
Kelly and Mart share a common interest in each others activities including travel, music, working, partying, football and mountain hiking, maybe Kelly is not that keen on the last two.
Christmas 2008 was an exciting period for us as Mart and Kelly were coming to visit, for Mart to meet Sue and I and many of Kelly’s family and friends. I don’t know how apprehensive Mart was about this trip but he did not show it and he won us all over with ease.
We shared an apartment at Coogee with them for a week and it was at this time that Sue and I observed the great relationship Kelly and Mart had, and it was obvious that they were in love. After a couple of weeks in Aus they headed back to London, leaving Sue and I feeling again very comfortable about the future.

It was only a few weeks later that Mart called us to ask for Kelly’s hand, but Kelly made him do it again a few days later, sober. Of course we were very happy to say yes to Mart and were pleased to be asked, in these modern times.

Last Christmas it was our turn to come to London to spend time with Kelly and Mart and of course to meet Ros and Peter and Chris & Nick and many of Mart’s friends. Again Sue and I could not have been made feel more welcome than we were by their friends at the “East Hill” pub in Wandsworth, by Jon and Mary at their flat, and by the fantastic hospitality shown by Ros and Peter in sharing their home and family with us for our first ever winter Christmas. London even put on snow for us in the days before Christmas much to the frustration of many Christmas travellers but we thought it was great.
Thanks again for your welcome.
Well that brings us to tonight, at this wonderful venue and this gathering of family and friends for this celebration. It has been an eventful four and a half years for Sue and I, and Kelly and Mart.
Sue and I do not have a son, until now, and we could not be happier than to have Mart fill that role, especially when my car needs washing. We welcome him to the family and even the Australian Immigration authorities have agreed to let him into the country. We look forward to Kelly and Mart’s arrival in Sydney next year, as much as Ros, & Peter, and family and Mart’s friends will be sad to see this happen. I know that Kelly too, will miss the friends she has made in London, her work colleagues, the exciting London lifestyle and everything except the winter.
I now see Kelly and Mart as very much citizens of the world, a much smaller world than in the past. I think Kelly and Mart are keen and ready to take on the opportunities and challenges ahead, and we wish them every success in the future in whatever they do.
I would also like to extend an invitation to all of you to come visit Sue & I and Kelly & Mart in Australia, we have three spare guest rooms in our home in Goulburn and you are all welcome. Meanwhile, in the next few hours, we would like to meet every one of you and share a drink and a yarn.
Kelly & Mart…… Sue and I love you both very much and I would like everyone to now join us in a toast to you ……….
cheers Kelly & Mart.