Newlyweds Denise Nolan and Tom Anderson waited almost half a century to officially become husband and wife. Now, in the shadow of the iconic Blackpool Tower and witnessed by their nearest and dearest – including Denise’s sisters Coleen, Linda, Anne and Maureen – the couple have cemented the final chapter in their decades-long love story.
When OK! speaks to Denise the day after the ceremony and she reminisces about the poignant moments that made it so special, it is clear she’s still on an emotional – albeit exhausted – high.
“I had a fabulous day,” she smiles. “But everyone’s exhausted, we didn’t get home until midnight. We danced our legs off all night!”
The couple, who married on Monday 17 June, first met when Denise, now 72, was singing with The Nolans and Tom, 77, was the resident drummer at the London Rooms, above London’s New London Theatre in the West End.
“We’ve been together now for 47 years and we love each other. We got engaged about 30 years ago, but we didn’t think we needed the piece of paper to say that,” she says. “He’s asked me to marry him a few times but usually when he’s had a drink and is feeling sentimental! Then I mention it to him the next day and he runs a mile!”
One important factor that contributed to the couple finally making it official was Tom’s heartbreaking Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2018. Denise accepts, especially given her own family losses, that tomorrow is never guaranteed, and they “didn’t want to wait until further down the line where he might be a lot worse and it could be hard work”.
When the pair decided that the time had finally come to make it official, it took them a while to work out exactly how and when they wanted to do it. Initially, Denise laughs, they “weren’t going to make a big deal of it”, planning an intimate ceremony with just her, Tom and two witnesses to sign the paperwork. But things moved on once Linda caught wind of the idea.
Esta historia es de la edición July 01, 2024 de OK! UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición July 01, 2024 de OK! UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
A CITY OF TWO HALVES
There's a holiday for every budget to be found in Dubai, as OK!'s Faith Richardson discovered
'Christmas is a double whammy'
Chef James Martin on the pressures of dividing his time between his restaurants and his family over the festivities
LEARN HOW TO PLEASE YOURSELF
The festive season can be an incredibly stressful time, particularly for people-pleasers who struggle to put their own needs first
'There's a bit of faking it until you make it'
Actor Paul Mescal on entering the Gladiator II arena, building a blockbuster body for his role as fighter Lucius Verus, and heading up an A-list cast of Hollywood's finest stars
THE A-LIST HAIL HOLLYWOOD'S BIG HITTERS
A line-up of the film world's best-known faces attended this year's Governors Awards to celebrate lifetime achievements
'I think we arrived right on time'
The stars of the long-awaited film Wicked, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, tell us why its themes are so relevant right now and why the musical is so dear to their hearts
'No one knows who I am'
Having first found fame on social media, GK Barry has become the breakout star of this year's I'm A Celebrity
'I still pinch myself about how we met'
Now legally married, MAFS Uk’s Adam and Tayah Aveling are looking forward to Christmas with their daughter and welcoming baby number two in 2025
THE ROYAL WEEK
It was a sad week for Queen Camilla, but a good week for the royal family’s charities with visits to hospitals and homeless centres
WILLIAM AND KATE'S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS
After a challenging year for the royal family, the Prince and Princess of Wales plan to give their children an unforgettable time filled with fun and festivities