Pharmacy worker cancels wedding days before it was planned due to coronavirus fears

A pharmacist and her partner have been forced to cancel their wedding three days before it was meant to take place due to coronavirus fears.

Melissa Twydle-Sharpe, 48, and James Hardwick, 45, who live near Peterborough, were set to marry on Saturday (March 21) after 13 months of planning their dream wedding.

“It was heartbreaking,” Ms Twydle-Sharpe said. “My dress was ready at my friend’s house and the flowers and cake were all arranged.”

The couple from Yaxley, who have been together for five years, made the decision after many of their more than 100 guests were forced to self-isolate.

“We would never have forgiven ourselves if people got sick at the wedding,” Ms Twydle-Sharpe said. “We have protected all the people we love.”

“Tomorrow is going to be horrible but we’ll do something together to make it easier,” she added.

Ms Twydle-Sharpe works for a pharmacy so she is familiar with the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, while her partner James works for the Royal Mail.

“It’s been a double-whammy,” she said. “We’re on the frontline and we’ve got a lot to deal with, but we are still doing all we can.”

She added that the pharmacy has struggled to maintain stocks of hand gel and paracetamol and that many customers have struggled to get what they need.

Ms Twydle-Sharpe’s wedding was planned at Holmewood Hall near Peterborough and has been postponed until November.

The couple have lost around £1,000 due to the cancellation.

However, they have been enjoying the wedding cake, which has been shared with Ms Twydle-Sharpe’s two sons, 23 and 18, and her daughter, 15, who was going to be a bridesmaid.

“The cake tastes beautiful and we’ve frozen it, so we’ll be fine if we run out of food!” Ms Twydle-Sharpe said.

She had planned to stay at a bridal cottage the night before but had to cancel those plans, though she is still looking forward to marrying her “soulmate”.

“It doesn’t matter what happens because we know we are going to be together,” Ms Twydle-Sharpe said. “It feels like a practice run, so we’ve got it to look forward to again.”