Daily Teessider

An injured soldier wedding story for Hartlepool's Jon and Vicky Bolam

Sergeant Jon Bolam, 35, was left with a fractured skull, jaw, eye socket and hip, as well as a broken pelvis, when a roadside bomb exploded yards from him in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

His colleague, Rifleman Daniel Hume, was tragically killed in the explosion.
While laying in his hospital bed, he set himself a goal – to walk unaided down the aisle to wed Hartlepool bride, Vicky Barnett, 28.

Their Hartlepool Wedding photography was provide by local Teesside company YouDidntDidYou

bride to be Vicky and her proud father about to walk down aisle

And on Saturday 31st July, after months of hard work, specialist treatment, and the support of Vicky and both of their families, Jon won his determined battle.

The emotional ceremony took place at St Patrick’s RC Church, in  Owton Manor Lane, where Jon and members of his regiment, the 4th Battalion The Rifles, stood proudly in full military uniform.

Vicky, an Army nurse, wore a white dress with an emerald green band in honour of the regiment’s colours of black and green.

“I’m so lucky to have him because it could have been very different.”

The couple’s reception took place at Hartlepool’s Historic Quay. The newlyweds went on honeymoon at a location Jon was keeping under wraps.

“He’s not telling me until we get to the airport,” said Vicky. “I just know it’s going to be somewhere hot!” (Maldives)

wedding couple Vicky and Jon Bolam and flowergirl Ava aboard HM Trincomalee Hartlepool

blog posts: Green Jacket groom means green themed wedding, bridal wedding party get into gear,and so to their Hartlepool Church wedding service ,and onto Hm Trincomalee and Hartlepool Historic Quay, historic wedding funnies, missing bride?, wedding speeches like this :]