A chronicle of the year 1967
In the heart of London, on a scorching May day in 1967, a wedding took place that was far from ordinary. The festivities were held at The King's Head, a notorious boozer known for its lively atmosphere and seemingly unending hours.
The bride, a vision in white, skipped up the aisle to a cacophony of wolf whistles from the male attendees. Wives and girlfriends gasped, half in jealousy, half in admiration, as the bride's resemblance to Barbara Windsor was unmistakable. The groom, the father, was a character in his own right, wearing Vinolia brilliantine, winkle pickers, and having a reputation for knocking out a few people.
The congregation was already drunk before reaching the church, a fact that was evident in the bride's admission of having a small sherry with her nan to calm her nerves before the wedding. The best man, Tony Gilbert, fainted at the altar during the ceremony, requiring a revival with smelling salts and a brandy stiffener.
The wedding reception was a lively affair, with various characters in attendance, including tinkers, tailors, celebrity gangsters, and the local constabulary. The entertainment for the evening was provided by The Freddie Cortino Three, a band whose name, unfortunately, does not appear in any of the available historical records.
The festivities took an unexpected turn when a young boy grabbed the microphone and sang 'That's Alright Mama' before getting a kick. The band, looking like complete chancers, were banned from singing any Elvis songs following the impromptu performance.
The wedding reception reached a climax when a fistfight involving the landlord and the groom broke out. The bride, undeterred, fell out of the horse-drawn carriage as it parked at the church, laughing as she tried to right herself. The photograph of the bride's white dress hitched to a gartered thigh has become a family legend.
Despite the lack of corroboration in the available historical records, this 1967 wedding in London remains a tale of laughter, love, and a touch of chaos, passed down through generations. Whether the details of a "Bethnal Green boxing stance," The King’s Head pub, or The Freddie Cortino Three are part of a local or family story, an obscure event, or perhaps a fictional account, the spirit of the day remains vivid and unforgettable.
The chaotic wedding in Bethnal Green, a tale passed down through generations, was not only celebrated for its unorthodox appearance but also its influence on the family dynamics and home-and-garden lifestyle. Relationships, tested by the boisterous atmosphere, emerged stronger, mirroring the resilience of the characters in attendance, such as the bride, the groom, and the band, narratives that have since become an integral part of their family histories.
