Wedding vow

SMILING again . . . Kaye Dixon has vowed to help Dr Kershaw’s Hospice by staging a unique fund-raiser

The wedding’s off but Kaye’s vow is to help hospice

AN 11th-hour decision to abandon their wedding plans left Kaye Dixon and her partner facing a £3,500 bill for a reception which would no longer take place.

The pair were due to lose a large slice of the cash as an agreement with the White Hart, Lydgate, left them liable for a non-refundable deposit.

So Kaye took the brave decision to host a masquerade ball instead — charging for tickets and giving the entire proceeds to Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

Kaye (26), a former Hathershaw School pupil, is a coronary care nurse at North Manchester General Hospital.

She admitted the decision not to get married had been a blow, but said: “When you are surrounded by people who are really ill, some of who will die, you realise just how lucky you are.

“We had been together for nine years and had lots of good times, so I wanted to try and made something positive out of a bad situation.

“I put so much time and effort into planning this wedding over the last 12 months that I didn’t want it all to go waste. I had to cancel everything else, but this was one thing I felt I could do some good with.

“I felt my life was out of control but this has given me something to focus on.”

Kaye, who grew up in Garden Suburb, chose Dr Kershaw’s in memory of her grandfather Albert Ockerby, who died from lung cancer. Her job has also given her an interest in palliative care.

Kaye, who lived with her partner in Woodend Street, Lees, has earned a wealth of support and respect for her selfless decision.

An old friend from Propps Hall Primary School in Failsworth, Warren Griffiths, has offered to be the DJ and organise live entertainment.

There will be a raffle with prizes including meals for two at the White Hart and at the Star, Scouthead — which also includes overnight stay — beauty treatment from Face and Body in Grotton and a cake made by a colleague, Annette Bruton, who was going to make the wedding cake.

Friends and family have rallied round to help organise the event.

Kaye added: “Whenever anyone goes through a difficult time you realise who your friends are — all my friends and family have been fantastic.”


Tickets for the ball, on Saturday, October 17, are priced £34.50 a head. They are available from the hospice appeals office on 0161-624 9984. There are tables for eight and 10 available.