A VEIL worn 47 years ago at a wedding in Lamerton Church was recently sent to the other side of the world.

The wedding of Ellen McLaughlin and Ben Glynn took place on April 25 at Watson’s Bay, Sydney.

The bride is the ‘adopted granddaughter’ of Sandra Littlejohns, who has spent all her married life in Launceston with her husband Gordon.

Ellen wore the veil used by Sandra at her wedding to Gordon 47 years ago in Lamerton Church on July 31. Ellen also wore the necklace given to her by Sandra as an 18th birthday present.

Ellen’s auntie and Sandra’s good friend Sheila Scott told the Post: “Sandra is not only adopted grandma to Ellen but to my children as well. When, as a child, my sister and Ellen would visit she would call Sandra and Gordon her grandparents, and they being beautiful people took her as well as my children on trips.

“She gave her veil to Ellen and it was so kind as Ellen had one priced at about $400. [Sandra] is a very kind, unassuming person. I cried when she asked me to send the veil to Ellen. Her words were ‘Let her do with it what she wants or needs to’. Ellen had it altered slightly but kept it more or less the same.”

Ellen is a swimming  instructor and Ben is just finishing his final exams as a sports scientist. During the ceremony Ellen’s new husband, Ben, formally adopted her 11-year-old son Sean.