Miss-Delectable
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Signs Of Love At Centre For Deaf (from News Shopper)
Couples have found love at a centre for deaf people. DAVID MILLS heard their romantic stories.
EIGHT years ago, Dawn and Richard Coffin met each other at Deaf Access, a centre which provides support for deaf and hard of hearing people in Bromley and its neighbouring boroughs.
They are now married after tying the knot on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia on October 19.
Mrs Coffin, who now works at Marks & Spencer in Bromley High Street, was originally a volunteer at the centre in South Street, Bromley, helping with the administration.
It was when her future husband came along for help dealing with paperwork, making calls, and reading and writing letters their friendship started.
They were friends for the first three years before becoming a couple.
Dawn, 51, and Richard, 44, who live in Morgan Road, Bromley, were given a surprise wedding reception at the centre, which included wedding photos shown on a projector.
Richard said: "We had a brilliant wedding day.
"We had 32 guests plus children."
Deaf Access director Susan Craney attended the ceremony, which was translated by three guests into sign language.
She said: "I was delighted to make the journey to see them both sign their wedding vows.
"I have known them both now for seven years.
"Everyone at Deaf Access is so pleased to be instrumental in making this happy occasion happen."
This was not the first time a couple had met at the centre and ended up getting married.
Mrs Craney, 44, met her husband Roger, 60, in 2004 when he came to the centre on behalf of the UK Council on Deafness, a Government agency which liaises with deaf groups to check funding guidelines were being followed.
It turned out they had both been to the same school and Roger lived near Mrs Craney's mother in Reading.
The couple, who live in Farmfield Road, Bromley, got married in Malta in April last year.
Mrs Craney said the centre was building up a reputation as a place to find love.
She said: "It is well known most people meet partners through the workplace.
"The deaf community is small, so it is not unusual for deaf people to meet here."
And she did not rule out future couples meeting at Deaf Access.
She added: "Who knows? As long as we are able to offer a service where deaf and hard of hearing people can come for support and advice, I hope so.
"As a deaf charity we need to constantly look for funding to continue our work.
"It's difficult because deafness is not cute' and often people underestimate the devastating impact it can have on people until it happens to them."
# Deaf Access is in its 11th year and is a resource centre offering advice for hard of hearing people. It predominantly helps people in the area, but also gets email enquires from as far afield as Scotland, Pakistan and South Africa.
# For more information, visit deaf-access.co.uk
Couples have found love at a centre for deaf people. DAVID MILLS heard their romantic stories.
EIGHT years ago, Dawn and Richard Coffin met each other at Deaf Access, a centre which provides support for deaf and hard of hearing people in Bromley and its neighbouring boroughs.
They are now married after tying the knot on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia on October 19.
Mrs Coffin, who now works at Marks & Spencer in Bromley High Street, was originally a volunteer at the centre in South Street, Bromley, helping with the administration.
It was when her future husband came along for help dealing with paperwork, making calls, and reading and writing letters their friendship started.
They were friends for the first three years before becoming a couple.
Dawn, 51, and Richard, 44, who live in Morgan Road, Bromley, were given a surprise wedding reception at the centre, which included wedding photos shown on a projector.
Richard said: "We had a brilliant wedding day.
"We had 32 guests plus children."
Deaf Access director Susan Craney attended the ceremony, which was translated by three guests into sign language.
She said: "I was delighted to make the journey to see them both sign their wedding vows.
"I have known them both now for seven years.
"Everyone at Deaf Access is so pleased to be instrumental in making this happy occasion happen."
This was not the first time a couple had met at the centre and ended up getting married.
Mrs Craney, 44, met her husband Roger, 60, in 2004 when he came to the centre on behalf of the UK Council on Deafness, a Government agency which liaises with deaf groups to check funding guidelines were being followed.
It turned out they had both been to the same school and Roger lived near Mrs Craney's mother in Reading.
The couple, who live in Farmfield Road, Bromley, got married in Malta in April last year.
Mrs Craney said the centre was building up a reputation as a place to find love.
She said: "It is well known most people meet partners through the workplace.
"The deaf community is small, so it is not unusual for deaf people to meet here."
And she did not rule out future couples meeting at Deaf Access.
She added: "Who knows? As long as we are able to offer a service where deaf and hard of hearing people can come for support and advice, I hope so.
"As a deaf charity we need to constantly look for funding to continue our work.
"It's difficult because deafness is not cute' and often people underestimate the devastating impact it can have on people until it happens to them."
# Deaf Access is in its 11th year and is a resource centre offering advice for hard of hearing people. It predominantly helps people in the area, but also gets email enquires from as far afield as Scotland, Pakistan and South Africa.
# For more information, visit deaf-access.co.uk