England gave the go-ahead for the first civil partnership on Monday at the request of a terminally ill cancer patient who feared he would not live to see December 21st, the official date on which ceremonies can take place. Matthew Roche, a 46-year-old with lung cancer, and his partner Christopher Cramp, held their partnership hours after the first registrations took effect.
Roche died the next day, surrounded by friends and family.
Roche said after the ceremony, “I really, really needed to get married and we are very lucky indeed to be given the opportunity. Chris and I have always wanted to do this – it is just a shame that I have been taken so early.”
The couple had been together for seven years.
