Cinders delays her honeymoon
Jan 4 2008 by Audrey Barton, The Journal
CINDERELLA married her own Northumberland Prince Charming on New Year’s Eve and threw a pantomime in which she was billed to star into disarray.
Claire Holmes, née Johnson, wed Edward on the last night of 2007 just 10 days ahead of the opening night of Cinderella.
With four performances and crucial rehearsals to attend the cast and crew of this year’s Northumberland Young Farmers 27UP Club were afraid the Slaley star would be on her honeymoon.
But the 27-year-old interiors manager, now of Dilston, near Corbridge, showed true dedication and postponed her two-week honeymoon to Canada and Alaska until the end of the month.
“It was nearly booked when I suddenly realised the play would be then. This is my fourth year in the pantomime with 27UP and I was doing it for 15 years with the Young Farmers so I couldn’t miss it.”
The cast has been rehearsing since September and breathed a sigh of relief when Claire, who had been planning her wedding, moved her honeymoon back.
The pair wed in Langley Castle on New Year’s Eve after getting engaged in July. Claire dreamed of a marriage at the castle and a last-minute cancellation sealed their fate.
More than 220 guests joined them including many members of the cast for the medieval bash.
“It was quite overwhelming how many people we had and quite a party given it was on New Year’s Eve.”
Claire and Edward, 29, an operations manager of Dilston, attended school in Corbridge together and have moved in the same circles until they got together three years ago.
Edward, also from a farming background, was happy to postpone the honeymoon to make way for the traditional production.
“We are hoping to get a good turn out for the play. It is usually in everyone’s diary,” said Claire.
The pantomime gets underway with performances at 7pm on Thursday, January 10, and Friday, January 11, and two at 2pm and 7pm on Saturday, January 12 at the Queen’s Hall Theatre in Hexham.
Tickets are available from Geoff Hubbuck on (01434) 602417, County YFC Office on (01661) 872562 or Queen’s Hall on (01434) 652477.
