Speech by John Taylor

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: John Taylor
Speech Date: 07/06/2013 16:10:34

Good afternoon everyone I'm Sarah's dad John and I'd like to welcome you all to the Newton Park Hotel, a very fitting venue for Sarah and Jamie's special day. I'm sure you all will agree Sarah looks a million dollars and even Jamie has scrubbed up quite well too after his week on the sunbed. The bridesmaids also look beautiful along with the handsome little page boy George.

Before I talk about Sarah and Jamie, I would like to introduce you to the mother of the bride my wife Julie or the Queen of faff as she better known. Jamie and Sarah reckon she's like Jean Slater from Eastenders but I can't possibly comment as I don't watch it.

 Just to let you into a secret Julie actually bought 4 frocks with today in mind.  A blue one for if the weather was a bit cold and icy (you never know in England in June). A brown one if the weather was a bit mucky and a grey one if the weather was overcast. She decided this morning to opt for the reddy/pink one as she fancies a bottle of rose or 3 just like she did on Sarah's spa weekend in Chester.

In all seriousness Julie has been a fantastic wife, mother, daughter, sister and a fantastic role model for Sarah. We've been together for coming up to 30 years and I knew I wanted to marry her within 6 or weeks of meeting her .I'd be lost without her. My dad not long before he died called her a little angel – he wasn't wrong.

So Sarah Clare Taylor born on April 18th 1985.She had a happy childhood as she progressed through Redwood infant and junior school. She became a very talented dancer and performed at places like the Guildhall

In her early teens she was absolutely obsessed with the Back Street Boys (for those of you who don't know the Back Street Boys were an American Boy Band) not a group of yobs on a street corner in a Sinfin! Her bedroom was plastered in pictures of Nick Carter the lead singer and I think the CD player packed up with overuse. See went on to pass 8 GCSEs with Grades A* to C.

She then moved to John Port 6th Form to do her A levels and this is where she met her Bridesmaid Hannah and Sarah is god parent to her son George.

Sarah is a very proud girl and has always been very self-motivated, determined and organised. If her mum is the Queen of Faff, Sarah is the Queen of Research. If I had a pound for every time she mentions Trip Advisor I'd be a multi-millionaire. She completed her Psychology degree at Derby Uni. This is where she met Nat her chief Bridesmaid and they've been best friends ever since.

Sarah and her mum get on like a house on fire and just like a pair of bookends. About 7.30 most evenings we're just settling down to watch Made in Chelsea/TOWIE/Hollyoaks when Sarah phones up and the pair of them are on the phone for an hour, so this enables me to change channel and watch the MNF or Champions League on! What do women talk about for an hour! But long may it continue!

Sarah has always loved animals especially dogs which shows the caring side of her personality. I'd like Glen to come forward to present you with a bit a memento for you. As you can see this is a picture of the dogs that Sarah has grown up with. Our house is like a retirement home for dogs!

She met Jamie in the Specials back in 2007 . 

I think they were friends at first, but things developed and they ended up here today!

Jamie Robert Hector Stewart. When I first met him I thought he was the spitting image of Australian cricketer Darren Lehmann. If you don't know who I'm on about just search Darren Lehmann on Google Images

What I have noticed about Jamie is that he's a bit of a creature of habit and routine even at the age of 30. I've got a list of things that I've noticed myself or what other people have told me. As Dermot O'Leary on the X Factor would say these are in no particular order.

Always has chicken tikka masala from an Indian and never tries anything different.

Known to the local criminals in Burton as the pit bull.

Will only have tomato sauce made by Heinz.

In the last two weeks he has cut his lawn twice but in the preceding two years he never cut it.

Invites himself for tea at our house when there's a live match on Sky.

Whenever he sends me a cheque it always bounces and I end up paying the fine.

He doesn't see eye to eye with Latvians.

He's got a racing bike with the lycra to go with it (only used and worn once).

Whenever he goes to the gym this is always followed by a trip to McDonalds.

When he goes on holiday he spends all day on the sunbed and times himself on his front and back.

On a serious note, Jamie has worked incredibly hard over the years we've known him and is doing a pretty dangerous occupation. I know he thinks the world of Sarah and Julie and I are very proud of them both. As a couple they've had a couple of tough years with Sarah's job situation but the future now looks very rosy on that front and I wish them health and happiness and I'd like to welcome Jamie into our family.

Before we toast Sarah and Jamie, I would like us to remember all the close relatives on both sides of the family who sadly are no longer with us.

In their relatively young lives Jamie has lost two granddads and Sarah has lost her Grandad Bull, Uncle John and her Grandma and Grandad Taylor

They all would of loved to been here on this special day.

I would like to just spend a few moments so we can reflect on this…………..

So it's time for me to pass the mic over

Ladies/Gents boys and girls……….… Sarah and Jamie the Bride & Groom

Thank you very much