Soon-to-be-married singer to hold concert to raise money for motor neurone disease

Sarah Mellor will be marrying Andy Wade at St Mary’s Church on Saturday, August 20. The couple, who are both visually-impaired, met through an email list.

The Banbury Guardian printed their story in September last year.

But as well as preparing for a wedding, Miss Mellor is holding a variety show at Banbury Town Hall on June 4, from 7.30pm, featuring music, dance, drama and comedy.

Hollywood provided Miss Mellor with the inspiration to raise money for MND.

She said: “When I saw the film, The Theory of Everything, I was moved and inspired by Stephen Hawking. I didn’t know much about MND but I wanted to do something.”

She has received support from the MND Association, which will be sending a speaker along to give a talk at the event.

Miss Mellor said: “I got in touch with Banbury Town Hall, because it is a lovely venue and it went from there. I can’t believe it has come around so quickly.”

Tickets for the show, which are £10, can be bought from By the Fire, on Calthorpe Street and Little Amsterdam, on North Bar.

She added: “Quite a few businesses have donated vouchers and raffle prizes.

“I’m feeling excited, but also a bit stressed.”

Wedding preparations are also well underway with the material for her wedding dress having arrived.

The wedding reception will be held at Little Amsterdam, where the couple are regular customers, and will have a sensory theme.

Miss Mellor said: “We had quite a response from the Banbury Guardian article. We have sent out the invitations.

“For the first time we went to see the new vicar at St Mary’s being installed. He will be marrying us so it was lovely to meet him.

“We want to make the ceremony a public event for anyone who wants to come.”

But, she added, she was concerned about finances as the couple received disability living allowance.

“Also the finance assessment team at Oxfordshire County Council decided to put up the money I have to pay towards my care even though they know we have a wedding coming up.

“I’m going to appeal against it.

“We want it to be the wedding of our dreams and we don’t want anything to get in the way or jeopardise that.”