Speech by David Anderson

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: David Anderson
Speech Date: 23/10/2013 14:16:40

Hello everyone. Are you having a good time? If I had known that this would be such a wonderful event we would have had more daughters!

Can I wish you all welcome to celebrate this very special event. Thank you all for coming. It's lovely to see so many smiling faces! Special thanks for the lovely bridesmaids and especially the Brazilian flower girl, Marina! There have been a lot of friends and relatives helping out in arranging everything. You have done a brilliant job, and thank you all so very much. We've met so many of their friends over the last couple of days, and they are great! We've met Nicola, Claire, Nicola, Andy, Nicola, Becky er…

We are so happy to see some from our Brazilian family – Dani, Renata and our little granddaughter Marina. It's also great to see so many of Helena's friends from Corfe Hills school and Exeter University, and those she met through her life. And some of these with their own families now.

Last year I had a phone call from Rich, which was a bit unusual, and it was a good thing I was sitting down at the time. He asked my permission to marry Helena, which took us a bit by surprise! It made me realise I should have done the same thing when I asked Eni to marry me, over 40 years ago! But I didn't!

A bit of History Helena was born in Poole but moved to Brazil at 11 months. She was always an inquisitive child. Her playgroup teacher thought she had eyes in the back of her head because she could see everything around her. Brazilian cooking herbs (parsley, spring onions etc.) are known as “cheiro verde” or “green scent”. One day Helena asked “is the smell green?” Returned to UK after 10 years with little knowledge of English Pupils at her new school in Dorset wondered if she might have come from snake-ridden, earth floored village. Very primitive, they thought. Although Helena and I were both born in the UK – Helena in Poole and I in Cumbria – we always speak to each other in Portuguese, unless together with non-Portuguese speaking people. Her school friend Mel was always at our house and Eni and I almost suspected that we had adopted her. Even though she was always at home, she never got to speak much Portuguese. Occasionally we would hear a call from upstairs “Mae – quero cha'”. This was Mel asking for a cup of tea! She fooled us once or twice.

Helena went on to study Physics at Exeter Uni where many of her friends here also studied. I was surprised she decided to study Physics. I thought she might have studied medicine, as we both used to watch vampire films in Sao Paulo, and she never flinched at the site of blood! Helena has always loved adventure, and seems to have indulged in some of the most dangerous activities around! White water rafting, bungee jumping, sky diving, cycling dome the Death Road in Bolivia, etc. Fortunately Rich has the same love of adventure, so they make a perfect match in this respect.

Helena has always been a happy and joyful daughter. Never moody and always with a smile on her face. As all of you will know from your own experience. We hope she will bring as much joy to the Everett family as she has to ours.

ABSENT FRIENDS I am sure Rich's dad would love to be here today at this special occasion. Eni and I met both Arthur and Pat only twice, and found them both very easy to get on with. Helena and Rich had arranged to take time off from work and visit Central and South America, so a meal was arranged to meet the family for a farewell and early Christmas celebration. We were a bit daunted with the prospect of meeting 2 of his brothers, 2 sisters-in-law and 5 nephews. Helena said they were great, so we thought it best to believe her! And she was right! Helena and Rich surprised the family by showing off Helena's engagement ring, and comments such as “about time” and “finally making the right decision” were made. After the meal we went back to one of the brother's houses (I still can't remember all the names!) and it was obvious that Helena fitted in so well with everyone.

Thanks must be made to both Pat and Arthur for raising 3 sons in such a loving environment, and all sons making the right choice for their wives (now including Helena!). The best way to show a happy family is by example, and I'm sure that Pat and Arthur have done a brilliant job.

Now to the Wedding Cake Special thanks to Gilly for making such a gorgeous cake! She had help from her mum and also Eni, but the greatest part of the work was by Gilly herself, and we are really grateful for such a fantastic creation. Save a piece for me! I am supposed to “give” the bride away. After so much dedication, love and expense showered on Helena all her formative years, the thought of giving doesn't sound too good. So I have calculated that a dowry of 2 camels, 5 goats and 10 sheep is probably a good exchange!

What advice should Eni and I give to you both? Well, Eni and I completed 40 years of marriage last month, and I think our example, and also that of Pat and Arthur, are proof enough that plenty of love, and a lot of tolerance on both sides, makes for a perfect marriage. Although there may be one less Anderson in the world, I am giving Rich a certificate making him an honorary Anderson, so that evens everything out. Finally, let's all raise our glasses and toast the bride and groom – the new Mr and Mrs Everett. We all wish you the best for your future life together.

TOAST TO HELENA AND RICH