The wedding pictures helping hospice

The Oakley Studios owner is selling the negatives of precious wedding photographs and baby portraits he took between 1990 and 2002.

All the proceeds will be split between two local charities close to his heart and that of his wife Sue – Keech Hospice Care and the Luton&Dunstable Hospital Neonatal Unit (NICU).

David, 50, said: “In January we’re moving to a new purpose-built studio around the corner in Emerald Road and there’s very little storage space.

“We’ve literally thousands of film negatives on file and decided that rather than just let them gather dust in some dark room, we’d offer these unique family records to our clients.”

The negatives are on sale for £20 for each wedding or portrait commission and two Dunstable couples have already jumped at the chance.

They are Gary and Kerry Preston of Hadrian Avenue and Russell and Samantha Sage of Wilbury Drive.

Kerry, 39, said: “Our wedding day in May 1998 was the happiest day of our lives.

“Our reception was at the Cloisters in Whipsnade and it’s fabulous to have every single picture that was taken on the day.”
The childhood sweethearts were so pleased with Oakley Studios that they used its Little Cherubs service when their children arrived – James, 10, and five-year-old Thomas.

Kerry added: “We’ve always maintained contact with David and when he came up with this idea we thought it was fantastic.

“Both our sons were born at the L&D fit and healthy but not everyone’s so lucky.”

Samantha Watkin and Russell Sage met through the Luton News lonely hearts column.

Food technical manager Sam, 41 – now a mum of three – recalled: “The first letter Russell wrote really made me laugh. I thought he had a good sense of humour and when I met him he lived up to expectations.

“Our first date was on Christmas Eve 1994 and we were married at All Saints church in Houghton Regis in June 1997. We only had a small wedding album because of cost so it was great to see all the pictures.

“And it’s for such a good cause, it’s a brilliant idea.”

> If you’re interested in taking up David’s offer – and helping these two great causes – contact him on 01582 491499 or email [email protected]