The oldest bridesmaid in town

5:57pm Friday 2nd May 2008

She was the oldest bridesmaid in town - and proud of it.

At 92, Violet Hood cut an elegant figure at her friends' wedding, almost stealing the show.

The Chelsea FC fan would have liked to wear her football hat, but opted for a yellow wide-brimmed number instead.

Mrs Hood, of Riverside Court, Halstead, had not been a bridesmaid for about 70 years until bride Sylvia Clair, her carer, asked her.

She is also rather fond of the groom, Gary Saunders, and has been known to get a bit too friendly.

The new Mrs Saunders, 45, joked: "I don't want her to catch the bouquet, she tries to pinch his bottom! She is a little love."

She thinks of the lively grandmother as a "surrogate nan", and was delighted Mrs Hood made it to her special day at Braintree registry office on Friday**2/5*.

The sun shone on the happy couple, of Kings Road, Halstead, as Mrs Saunders wore a full length maroon gown and her bridesmaid had a floral dress with yellow jacket.

Widow Mrs Hood, a former netball player and rugby union fan, said: "I thought it was going to be too much for me but it was lovely. Everyone was so kind and helpful."

Mrs Saunders' mother, Lucy Clair, helped Mrs Hood outside and said the ceremony had been fantastic.