Out & About Summer 2019

LOCAL VIEW

JONATHAN HOPSON is taking on the new role of father-in-law when his daughter Sophie gets married in August. The preparations are all-consuming

O ne of the defining moments for a father is being asked by a prospective son-in-law how you feel about them marrying your daughter. I was thrilled to experience such a moment on a family skiing holiday in France during the first week in January this year, when my daughter Sophie’s boyfriend George and I found ourselves alone in a cable car. Having subsequently separately received a strongly affirmative response from both his parents-in- law-to-be, George duly proposed to Sophie (he had planned ahead and brought an engagement ring out on holiday with him) and it was a very special moment for us all to hear Sophie say “Yes!”. The wedding is booked for August and it’s interesting to note there’s some history on short engagements in the Hopson family – my parents were engaged in September and married the following June, whereas Lucy and I reversed those months – we were engaged in June and married three months later in September. Sophie and George are planning a civil ceremony in Winchester, followed by a wedding party a few days later at their home outside Newbury. The marquee, chairs and tables, florist, caterer and photographer are all booked, the guest list has been finalised and the invitations ordered – there are a number of other things that have been organised, some of which are a surprise. After much searching in shops near and far, and numerous trawls on the internet, the bride’s wedding dress has been sourced and is in the process of being altered. Nearly as important, it looks as if we

are now close to a successful final selection for the mother of the bride’s dress... The key task outstanding – which will no doubt take longer to complete over the weeks ahead than we think – is to help ensure the garden is looking its best and to fine tune the father of the bride’s speech. Without stealing the best man’s thunder on the day, I think I have managed to glean some fascinating snippets about the groom, which will hopefully generate some laughter on the day. I’ll also incorporate a quote from Lyndon B Johnson: “Only two things are necessary to keep one’s wife happy. One is to let her think she’s having her own way, the other, to let her have it.” The time between now and the wedding will no doubt race by – let’s hope the English weather behaves and the sun shines.

George and Sophie

Jonathan’s parents’ wedding reported in the Newbury Weekly News

Jonathan’s mother, Sue Hopson recently lent her 1950s wedding dress to West Berkshire Museum for an exhibition entitled Somehting Old, Something New. The stunning gown was worn by Mrs Hopson at her 1957 marriage to David Hopson, former owner of Camp Hopson

Mr and Mrs J Hopson, September 1990

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O&A SUMMER 2019