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Couple wed in Kenya village - with 55 bridesmaids and page boys
A kind-hearted couple who set up a school in a deprived Kenyan village have tied the knot – with all 55 pupils in the wedding party.
Sharon and David Hoggart, from Pontefract, travelled to Mombasa with 35 bridesmaid dresses and 20 page boy outfits ahead of their big day on January 18.
The pair set up a school there in 2008 after being inspired during a visit the previous year – and as the kids are such a big part of their lives, they just had to have them involved.
Sharon, 42, said: “My dream was always to get married on a beach and now that we have the school in Kenya it’s such a special place to us.
“The kids have been so loving to us so we thought we would do it there so they could be involved.”
Despite the clothes, camel rides and a feast for more than 300 villagers, the couple managed to spend just £2,000 – with many of the outfits donated by eBay users.
The couple were overwhelmed by the effort the villagers put into their traditional Masai wedding.
The big day involved a four-hour hair and makeup session for Sharon, as well as dancers, acrobats and a feast of goat and rice.
Sharon said: “After posing for photos, we drove through the village where our school is and were greeted by four buses full of pupils, parents and villagers who shared our special day with us.”
The couple set up the school, which costs £250 a month to run, in the village of Shazna in 2008.
They named it Karen in Mombasa, in honour of Sharon’s sister Karen Kerr, who died from cancer in January 2007.
The newlyweds, who run a charity shop called Little Hope to fund the school, are now launching a drive to raise £15,000 to build a brand new, purpose-built school.
Sharon said: “We need them out of that school because it’s in a valley and it’s really rainy.
“Eventually, if we can get the school built, we will be looking to build some wells around the area.”
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