Frontline couple who battled through pandemic win wedding day celebrations

A Chorley couple are the lucky winners of the 'Win Your Wedding' competition after the nation fell in love with their dedication to the NHS during the pandemic.
Happy winners Amy and Jamie at Brockholes.Happy winners Amy and Jamie at Brockholes.
Happy winners Amy and Jamie at Brockholes.

Three months after the launch of the competition, Brockholes Nature Reserve is set to host the wedding of Chorley couple Amy Hayes and Jamie Shattock, who were voted as the winners and will now celebrate their special day in style - and paid for.

After around 50 entries to the competition and more than 3,000 votes from the public their story won the heart of the nation, with Amy opting for early qualification as a nurse to work on the frontline at Chorley Hospital, and Jamie working as an engineer at Burnley hospital ensuring vital elements of the hospital continued to run smoothly during the pandemic.

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From first meeting in the NHS back in 2016, the couple now said 'we will continue our service for as long as we possibly can.'

Amy said: “We were so shocked, we couldn’t quite believe it. We were at Jamie’s parents' house when we got the call and everyone started dancing around the room. Even Jamie’s Gran was fist pumping she was so excited.

“We are just so excited about getting all the families together for a wonderful celebration. It is giving us something to look forward to after such a difficult few months, which still hasn’t ended. We can’t wait to tell Jamie’s son; it’s going to be the best surprise for him, and all our friends and family.”

The couple will celebrate their wedding at the outdoor reserve, with vows taken floating on water and surrounded by panoramic lake views.

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Spending a wedding at the unique venue also supports vital conservation work to help protect the local wildlife.

The competition, ran by the popular Lancashire Wildlife Trust wetland nature reserve, was opened to anyone who has been helping others during the Coronavirus pandemic.

They simply needed to share their story for a chance to win a wedding worth over £9,000.

Caroline Wilson, Wedding Co-Ordinator at Brockholes, has been dealing with re-arranging and organising weddings at the floating wedding venue and was the first to reveal the good news to Amy and Jamie.

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Caroline said: “All the couples who entered deserved to win with their inspirational and heart warming stories.

“We are over the moon to be able to offer such a wonderful prize to Amy and Jamie who really won the hearts of the region. We have a been getting lots of enquiries from couples looking to plan their wedding at Brockholes in the next couple of years, it's lovely to be able to look ahead to brighter times and help to create some special memories for families once again.

Brockholes Nature Reserve has now reopened its doors following a three-month period of closure due to the pandemic.

More information can be found at brockholes.org.uk