A charity shop is searching for a pensioner who donated his
wife’s 1950s wedding dress – with a heart-wrenching handwritten note attached
to it.
wife’s 1950s wedding dress – with a heart-wrenching handwritten note attached
to it.
The dress is believed to have been handed in to the St
Gemma’s Hospice Garforth Bridal and Occasion Wear Charity Shop last week, when
the shop first opened.
Gemma’s Hospice Garforth Bridal and Occasion Wear Charity Shop last week, when
the shop first opened.
It was only when area manager Aysha Alton and shop manager
Sue Denton were going through the donated dresses that they noticed the penned
note attached to the dress with a safety pin.
Sue Denton were going through the donated dresses that they noticed the penned
note attached to the dress with a safety pin.
The message reads: “I wish any lady who takes this
dress to have a life with her loved one, 56 years like I did, happy years. I
was a lucky man to marry a lady like mine.”
dress to have a life with her loved one, 56 years like I did, happy years. I
was a lucky man to marry a lady like mine.”
The charity thinks the man must live locally, as they are a
charity based in Leeds with 22 charity shops across the city.
charity based in Leeds with 22 charity shops across the city.
The dress is unique as it appears to have been custom-made
to fit the bride due to its intricate stitching and lack of a label.
to fit the bride due to its intricate stitching and lack of a label.
Area manager Aysha Alton, 29, said: “We think it’s a
1950s vintage dress because of the number of years mentioned in the note that
was attached to it.
1950s vintage dress because of the number of years mentioned in the note that
was attached to it.
“When we saw the message that came with it we thought
it would be a great idea to put it on social media and share the dress’
story.”
it would be a great idea to put it on social media and share the dress’
story.”
Since first posting on the charity’s Facebook page about the
dress on Monday, the charity have been contacted by people from all over the
country and have had enquiries about it from as far as America.
dress on Monday, the charity have been contacted by people from all over the
country and have had enquiries about it from as far as America.
There has been so much interest that St. Gemma’s Hospice
have decided to sell it on eBay, so that people who are not local to the shop
will have the chance to buy it.
have decided to sell it on eBay, so that people who are not local to the shop
will have the chance to buy it.
Head of communications Nicola Woodgate, 44, said: “The
dress has really captured people’s imaginations and the note really gives it
some history.
dress has really captured people’s imaginations and the note really gives it
some history.
“We believe that the gentleman it belonged to brought
it into the shop himself, and we would love to be able to thank him for the
beautiful dress.
it into the shop himself, and we would love to be able to thank him for the
beautiful dress.
“To pass the dress on and to donate something so
special is the ultimate act of kindness, and we’ve been overwhelmed by the
response we’ve got on social media.”
special is the ultimate act of kindness, and we’ve been overwhelmed by the
response we’ve got on social media.”
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