Wedding: Paul and Dahlia Cudworth (From Surrey Comet)

Wedding: Paul and Dahlia Cudworth

12:49pm Thursday 22nd February 2007 in

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As the vicar pronounced the couple man and wife, there wasn't a dry eye left in the Georgian parish church in Mitcham.

Church bells rang as Paul and Dahlia Cudworth walked down the aisle, and a Jaguar whisked them away to their reception amid a shower of confetti.

Dancing the night away in their local pub, surrounded by old friends and family, it might have looked as if the young couple didn't have a care in the world.

Onlookers may not have known that in January, Paul, 39, was serving the end of a nine-month prison sentence.

One day before his release, just as he was looking forward to being reunited with Dahlia and their four children, doctors delivered the news that Paul had terminal lung cancer.

But, despite the blow and the clinical surroundings of the hospital, Paul seized the opportunity to propose there and then to his girlfriend of 12 years.

He said: "She asked me if there was anything she could do for me.

"I told her there was only one thing - marry me. I've been meaning to do it for so long, but never had the money."

From that moment, a whirlwind of preparations began. Friends, family and well-wishers rallied round to give Paul and Dahlia a wedding they would never forget.

The Church of St Peter and St Paul in Mitcham was offered free of charge, and bell ringers, an organist and choir all waived their fee.

The night finished off with a lively reception at the Crown pub in London Road.

"The whole day was amazing," said Paul, who lives with his family in Rawnsley Avenue, Mitcham.

"I couldn't have asked for it to go any better, and Dahlia looked beautiful."

Dahlia, 30, added: "I would have gone to the register office wearing a bin bag but I think Paul wanted to make things right for me and the children.

"We've been through thick and thin together. No matter what he's done in the past no one knows him as much as I do.

"I've had boyfriends before him, but he's my first love and always will be.

"I've promised him that I'll be a widow and that's what I'll do.

"There'll be no other man like him and I don't want one."