Proud Edna, 97, is oldest bridesmaid
A grandmother-of-six has become Britain's oldest bridesmaid after she followed her daughter down the aisle – aged 97.
Proud Edna Houghton was delighted to accept the role of matron of honour at the wedding of her daughter Maureen Grogan, 69.
Maureen married Duncan McKerracher-Taylor, 86, at the moving ceremony at the Grade II listed Pump Rooms, in Tenbury Wells, on the Shropshire border.
Edna fulfilled her duties by walking down the aisle with Maureen and stood by her side as she tied the knot.
But she drew the line on trying to catch the bouquet of flowers at the wedding reception afterwards. Maureen – who met Duncan seven years ago through a dating agency – said she planned her big day in less than a month so as to hold it on the same day as her parents' wedding on May 23, 1942.
Yesterday Maureen, from Tenbury Wells, said her mother was 'the life and soul of the party' and an essential part of her wedding. She said: "I've always been incredibly close with my mum. So when Duncan proposed I knew the only person I wanted as my matron of honour was her."
"When I told mum we got engaged her face lit up. She was just so happy to see me happy.
"When I asked her she just laughed and said, 'Oh Maureen you are a fool. How could I be your bridesmaid?'
"But she was joking and when I overheard her talking to her friends she was bragging about being in the wedding.
"She was so excited and happy for me."
Edna added: "I love my daughter very much and I have had the best day ever. I just want to do it all again now, it was just so beautiful. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my daughter look so happy and in love. It was been truly wonderful - God bless her."
