Speech by Ron Montgomery

Speech Type: Father of the bride/groom
Speech Creator: Ron Montgomery
Speech Date: Jan2005
Ladies and gentlemen, for those of you who don't know me, I am Ron, Helen's dad.

Thank you all for coming today to help Helen and Mark celebrate their special day
and thank you to Helen and Mark for all of the hard work that they have put into this day.

Today the world belongs to them.…

There are two things, which I hope that, as parents, Mary and David (Groom's parents) and Carol and myself (Bride's parents) have been able to give them.

One of these things is roots and the other is wings..…

I believe that we cannot fully enjoy life, unless we find someone we love to enjoy it with us.

Finding the right person to share my life with was one of the most important things I ever did and I am sure that David will feel the same way.

Between us as parents, we have shared more than 70 years of marriage.
Some of these times I know will have been difficult but these are far out-weighed by the good times.
It is the happy times that we remember and would not want to exchange for the world.

These then are the roots that we can give to Helen and Mark.

They now have their life together ahead of them and we, as parents, have done our best to set them on the right road.

We have, I hope, given them the wings they will need to fly.

Wings to be able to reach their goals, to support each other and eventually to set down strong roots of their own.

A few words then about Helen.…

Firstly I believe that I am allowed to say how beautiful she looks and how proud I was to be her escort today.

I also believe that I am expected to tell you something about her childhood.…

As a child Helen had a particular poetry book with one or two favourite poems.

One of these was called , ‘When Daddy fell into the pond’.
It's about a dull day, when everybody was fed up and bored. Then, Daddy fell into the pond.

I have never understood myself why Helen found this so amusing. Well today Helen I do not intend to fall into the pond, particularly not dressed like this. (Hired morning dress)

Another favourite of hers, was a poem about a character called Sir Brian Botany.

According to this poem, Sir Brian was ‘as bold as a lion’. Although he was a bit of a bully at first, by the end of the poem and after a dip in the village pond….you may see a theme developing here, Sir Brian became a reformed character and something of a hero.

Well I hope that today, in Helen's eyes, I was Sir Brian and as bold as a lion.

But now she has a new Knight in armour to look after her and his name is Mark.
A word of warning Mark….stay away from ponds !

And now perhaps a few words about Mark……

Mark is a good steady lad who has just given up a job as a consultant engineer to become a baker. ( reference to Mark now working for Allied Bakeries as an engineer)
An honourable profession I am sure Mark and at least we know that the family will not go hungry.
I also understand that this job comes with a company bike, quite a smart one too, except for the large basket on the front.

I am sure that Mark will make Helen a good husband but I feel that I should try to give him some advice.
Not an easy thing to do when both of our wives are present !

So, rather than be foolhardy, I have decided to take refuge behind some quotations. That way I won't get the blame.

The famous psychiatrist Sigmund Freud once said,
“The great question that I have never been able to answer is, what does a woman want?”

Well Mark, I am no wiser than Freud, but I do know that being a husband is like any other job… it's easier if you like the boss !

In fact I did find one wise gentleman, Oscar Wilde, who offered the following advice.

“ A woman is meant to be loved, not understood.”

And there you have the key to true happiness, love.

I have read that a successful marriage can be summed up in three short sentences.

I was wrong, you were right and I love you.
I believe that only one of these is essential… I love you.

Remember Helen and Mark. Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

Ladies and Gentlemen, will you please raise your glasses to Helen and Mark,

The Bride and Groom !