I knew my new husband was dying (From This is Hampshire)

I knew my new husband was dying

9:00am Wednesday 26th September 2007 in

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IT was one of the happiest days of their life but also one of the saddest.

Just three weeks ago Southampton pub landlord Chris Jones married his long-term partner Debbie in an emotional ceremony above their pub.

Yesterday, Debbie was joined by hundreds of friends and family for Chris's funeral after he lost his two year battle against skin cancer.

In a fitting send-off to the 46-year-old landlord of The Swan in Woolston, more than 100 motor bikers gathered outside his pub to follow the coffin to his funeral service in Southampton yesterday.

“I’ve only known Chris for six and a half years and in all that time both of us have made each other the happiest people around."

Debbie

Bringing traffic to a standstill, the bikers, some from his old biking group B.A.L.L.S, came from all over the county and they gathered outside the pub ahead of the 30-minute ride.

Paying tribute to her "soul mate", Debbie said friends and family celebrated his life with "one hell of a party" last night back at the pub after his funeral at Southampton Crematorium.

Debbie, 52, said: "I proposed to him three weeks ago and we had a special ceremony upstairs in the pub. It would have been my second week anniversary last week.

"I've only known Chris for six and a half years and in all that time both of us have made each other the happiest people around. I just love him to bits."

When Chris was diagnosed two years ago he drew up a list of things to achieve before he died.

They included flying a Spitfire over the Isle of Wight, swimming with dolphins and attending the Daytona Motorbike week in America, all of which he accomplished.