TRIBUTES have been paid to a Wrexham man who married his long term partner just weeks before dying of lung cancer.
Mike Body was joint owner of the Welsh Love Spoon Centre in Llangollen.
Celebrity customers he met during his time at the shop included Sir Anthony Hopkins, Nigel Havers and Coronation Street actress Amanda Barrie.
Mike married his partner Diane at Wrexham Register Office last month and died at home in Ponciau a few days before his 59th birthday.
Diane said: “Mike was a lovely man, he had time for everyone.”
The couple had been together since 1997 and always planned to get married one day.
Diane said: “You think you have got all the time in the world. But when we knew how serious Mike’s condition was it was important for us to get married.
“It was a very special occasion with close friends and family. The memory will stay with me forever and it was what Mike wanted most in the world.”
The couple were married on October 16 and Mike died on November 18.
The 58-year-old had been fighting lung cancer and appeared to be winning the battle.
However he received a devastating blow in August when a scan showed he had developed a secondary tumour on his brain.
Despite the massive setback he bravely refused to give up and underwent intense radiotherapy at Glan Clwyd Hospital for a week, but unfortunately was not able to beat the disease.
Diane said Mike was a hugely popular man and that she had been inundated with condolence cards from many people. She thanked them for all their kind wishes.
Diane said: “Mike ran the Welsh Love Spoon Centre with business partner Ruth Jones and they had customers from all over the world, including America, Canada and Australia – with a great deal of interest on the internet.”
A funeral service will take place at Pentrebychan Crematorium on Monday at 3pm.
There will be family flowers only but donations in lieu may be given for Palliative Care Services.
If you would like to leave your own tribute to Mike, please post a message below.