Heart-swap man marries

9:42pm Wednesday 23rd April 2008

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Twelve years ago, Stephen Knowles was 45 and at death's door.

It was April 23, 1996, one of the most desperate days of his life.

He was in an operating theatre at Sheffield's Northern General Hospital undergoing a lifesaving heart transplant.

Yesterday, April 23, 2008, was, by huge contrast, the happiest day of his life.

It was his wedding day in his home town of Skipton and to his sweetheart and partner of two years, Bernadette Mackerill.

She arranged the ceremony, at Skipton register office with the reception in the nearby Royal Shepherd, on St George's Day because of its significance in both their lives.

It was the day Stephen, living in Sharphaw Avenue, Skipton, at the time, was given his new heart after falling ill with a viral infection.

When he went under the knife, his family was told he had about six weeks to live.

For Bernadette, an accounts assistant, St George's Day has been equally as traumatic.

It was 25 years to the day that she lost her father, Robert, when she was just a teenager.

"Today has been so important in our lives that I wanted to recognise it and see it as the start of something good," said Bernadette, 42.

They met two years ago when Stephen was in charge of the Wellington pub, in Elland, a job he has since given up.

"Stephen ran a really friendly pub. I used to go in there and we fell for each other," said Bernadette.

Everything has not been without its worries because only last year Stephen had to go back to hospital to have a pacemaker fitted.

"I kept getting dizzy spells and my heart was missing a beat.

"I wasn't worried and don't get fazed anymore.

"Worry only makes it worse," said Stephen, who was a keen sportsman and before his operation played rugby union for Skipton.

"I think the saints must be looking after me because I was supposed to be born on December 26, St Stephen's Day, and I had my operation on St George's Day.

"I always say I was born again on that day," he said.

Since his major surgery, he has tried to keep active and has won a gold, two silver and two bronze medals at the transplant games.

Among the guests at the reception was Stephen's 56 year-old sister, Jean Howcroft, of Regent Drive, who recalled the devastation the family felt when her brother became ill.

"He was a fit man working hard as an upholsterer, playing sport and then he's in intensive care with drips and monitors. It was awful.

"We were told by the surgeon that he may not come out of the operation.

"Twelve years on and this is a very happy time for him and Bernadette."

The couple, who live in Elland, will be honeymooning in Spain, courtesy of family members, but long-term they want to make their home in Skipton and spend more time at their hobby, camping.