A Welsh emergency department sister who saw "unspeakable trauma" working on the frontline during the pandemic has shared her devastation and regret that her beloved mum is unlikely to be be able to watch her get married next week as her passport hasn't arrived in time despite the pair ordering it four months ago. Ashleigh Jenkins from Bridgend has worked for NHS Wales for six years and has been looking forward to marrying her childhood sweetheart Matthew Jenkins for years – especially after having to postpone their special day twice due to Covid regulations.
The pair have been together since 2008, having met as teenagers through Ashleigh's cousin who went to school with Matt. While they were friends first it wasn't long before their friendship grew into something more. For more stories about the NHS and NHS workers go here.
"I had just come back from a family holiday and he from a rugby tour in South Africa and we met up with friends not expecting to see the other person there – but there we both were. He took my hand and held it and we've been together ever since, I was 15 and he was 16," Ashleigh said. "We had our legal Covid [marriage] service to sign the documents last May, 2021, so that we could finally have our wedding ceremony in June 2022."
