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A charity shop in Leeds has tracked down the elderly man who donated his late wife’s stunning 1950s wedding dress with a heartfelt note.
St Gemma’s Hospice, which runs a speciality bridal shop in Garforth, described the man as a “true gent” while appealing for help finding him on social media.
The stunning vintage gown has a lace bodice and sleeves and full embroidered skirt.
A note attached to it read: “I wish any lady who takes this dress to have a life with her loved one 56 years like I did. Happy years. I was a lucky man to marry a lady like mine."
The hospice appealed for help tracing the man on social media, writing on Facebook that they were “desperately seeking the kind gentleman who donated this one-off classic vintage wedding dress”.
Its efforts paid off this morning, when it announced that he had been found and was "over the moon" that people were being given the opportunity to buy his wife's dress.
Staff wrote on Facebook: "He is a big fan of St Gemma’s Hospice and is overwhelmed with the international attention that his late wife’s dress is generating.
"He is so happy and proud that the hospice will benefit from funds raised by the auction of the dress.
"He wishes to remain anonymous and we fully respect his decision but he is watching the media frenzy with interest and thinks it is wonderful.
"We have thanked him so much for his kindness and he would like to thank everyone for their support."
Nicola Woodgate, from St Gemma's Hospice, told The Independent that the man was alerted to his unexpected fame by family members.
She added: "He's absolutely thrilled with the whole thing but he's quite elderly and he wants to be an anonymous hero."
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A spokesperson said that due to the “huge amount of interest” from around the world, including thousands of “likes” on Facebook, the dress has been put up for sale on eBay.
By Thursday morning, it had 14 bids of up to £375.55 and the charity will be "keeping him posted" as the amount rises.
All proceeds will go to St Gemma’s Hospice, which is the largest in Yorkshire and has 22 charity shops in the county.
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