Jim Fieldsend and Jean Berry-Hart met at the parents evening of the school where their daughters were studying. Both were happily married at the time. But Jim had the urge to kiss the nape of Jean's neck...

Jean, Jim with friends

Since the girls were friends, their parents got to know each other. But Jim lived on Anglesey, and Jean was in the Midlands so their paths rarely crossed.

Jeans marriage fell apart, and Jim was kind and helpful. Both remember the time when Jim gave Jean a 'spur of the moment' canoeing lesson, and a pep talk about life after divorce.

In 1991, as the result of a road traffic accident, Jim had a stroke which left him paralysed down his left hand side. Much of that year was spent in hospital and then a nursing home. He'd go back to Anglesey for the odd weekend, but his wife found the whole situation too much, and eventually asked for a divorce.

As a Roman Catholic, Jim found this hard to accept. He became very depressed, but as his mood improved, his thoughts turned to Jean.

Jean runs a guest house in Oswestry. When Jim phoned out of the blue and asked if she'd marry him she was a bit taken aback, but suggested that she might be his mistress!

She didn't know if marriage was really an option. She hadn't seen Jim since he was very seriously ill after the stroke, and didn't know what state he was in. Jim described himself as 'a piece of meat'. Nurses washed and dressed him.

Jim started ringing Jean three times a day, and wrote every day. He bombarded her with wedding proposals and serenaded her over the phone. After intensive physiotherapy, and some alterations to the house Jim moved in with Jean. The proposals continued, and their wedding is on Saturday 3rd August.

Jim has been working hard at his physiotherapy and aims to be standing for the vows.

Useful Links:
Rehabilitation Research Centre (US)for Traumatic Brain injury and Spinal Chord Injury
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust
The Stroke Association
Welcome to Oswestry