A PROUD dad was overjoyed after seeing his daughter marry the man of her dreams at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital before his death.

When Eddie Williams, who had a rare form of testicular cancer, was told his condition was rapidly deteriorating on April 8, he feared he would not be able to give away his daughter, Aiesha, 19, from Cashes Green, Stroud to new husband Alex Lake.

Alex, 21, from Stonehouse, had proposed to Aiesha while on holiday in Iceland in January and the couple had set their wedding date for August 19.

"Eddie had been diagnosed in December but he took a turn for the worse and on Friday, April 8 we were told we would need to do it faster," said Alex, who attended Maidenhill School in Stonehouse at the same time as Aiesha.

"Everybody pulled together, including staff at the hospital, carers at Longfield hospice and staff at Philip Ford and Son funeral directors where Eddie worked so that the wedding could go ahead."

With Eddie only having weeks to live, the wedding was brought forward to April 11 in the chaplaincy of GRH.

Eddie, who passed away last Tuesday, April 19 at the age of 60, was able to attend the wedding in his wheelchair as he had wanted.

"It gave him great peace of mind and a sense of accomplishment to see the wedding," said his daughter, Aiesha, a renal healthcare assistant at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital who met Alex when they worked together at McDonald's in Stroud.

"The staff who looked after him kindly helped him get ready and fulfill his wish of being in a wheelchair.

"They made my day extra special by doing up the day room as a bridal parlour for myself and my bridesmaids to get ready.

"It was a very memorable and special day to me that was made extra special due to the help and kindness of the staff."

A special round of applause was also given to Eddie at the wedding, who Alex said was smiling from 'ear to ear.'

"It was a really lovely ceremony and Eddie really appreciated it," added Alex, a sales and marketing executive at Corinium Carpets in Cheltenham.

"We want to say a special thank you to Eddie's carers at Longfield hospice who made what could have been a horrible experience a lot nicer."

Eddie passed away at home surrounded by his family last Tuesday.

The funeral will take place at Gloucester Crematorium next Friday, May 6, at 10.30am.