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Grand-dad who married his teenage sweetheart dies after 13 days

57-year-old Terence Reeves got married to 55-year-old Josie, his teenage sweetheart of 38 years. They tied the knot at his hospital bed on December 9, but he died of cancer only 13 days after the eventful ceremony.

Grand-dad who married his teenage sweetheart dies after 13 days

57-year-old Terence Reeves got married to 55-year-old Josie, his teenage sweetheart of 38 years. They tied the knot at his hospital bed on December 9, but he died of cancer only 13 days after the eventful ceremony.

Josie and Reeves lived happily together for 38 years before deciding to get married. Reeves had been fighting throat cancer and the couple decided to make it official while they still had time.

Sadly, Reeves died at home just three days before Christmas. His wife Josie paid tribute him, calling him a loving dad and grandad who was the "joker" of the family.

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"He meant everything to me," she said: "He was my world, he was a fantastic dad and grandad, he was well-loved by everybody."

"Terence loved riding his bike and playing snooker, he was definitely the comedian in the family."

Josie said her husband's death had been devastating for their four children, Terri-Anne, 36, Joanne, 35, Paul, 34, and Jim, 29.

"They loved their dad so much, they really miss him. My son Jim said it's broken him to bits. It's been really difficult for everyone, especially because it's around Christmas."

Terence, who worked as a security guard at Aston Villa for more than a decade, was first diagnosed with cancer in September last year. He underwent three months of radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment but doctors discovered there had been further tumour growth. He was admitted to John Taylor Hospice in November but decided to return home after the wedding.

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He had to write down his vows during the wedding ceremony because he had been left unable to speak due to his tracheostomy tube.

Josie praised the work of hospice staff and said the wedding had been a wonderful day for the whole family. "It was a fantastic day, when I walked in, he just looked at me and cried, and said 'You look beautiful.'

"I had always wanted a big white wedding when we were younger but this was really special."

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