Hackney councillor breaks record with midnight marriage
Louisa Thompsion Tweets - Credit: Archant
A councillor and his partner have broken a record, becoming Hackney’s first same-sex couple, and one of the first in the UK, to convert their civil partnership to a marriage at a Town Hall ceremony.
Giles and Philip convert their partnership with Giles' mum Skyping it - Credit: Archant
Philip Glanville, councillor for Hoxton West and cabinet member for Housing married partner Giles McCrary at Stoke Newington Town Hall just one minute after the change in law came into effect, at midnight on Wednesday December 10.
The changes mean same-sex couples can now convert their civil partnership status into marriage, which follows the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.
Cllr Glanville said: “My partner Giles McCrary and I were the first in Hackney to convert our civil partnership to marriage, and although some UK embassies have been doing ceremonies, we were likely to be amongst the first in the UK.
“We first got civil partnered on February 23, 2011 in Stoke Newington Town Hall and we were very excited to be able to convert to a full marriage.
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“We finished the paper work at 12.01am, straight after it became legal to do so. The ceremony followed swiftly after.”
Hackney councillors attended the wedding, including, speaker of Hackney Sharon Patrick and Deputy Mayor Sophie Linden.
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A number of councillors were live tweeting the occasion, including Cllr Jonathan McShane, who wrote: “History in the making as @PhilipGlanville and @TexPat78 get married in Hackney”
And Stoke Newington councillor Louisa Thompson: “Not a dry eye in the speakers parlour.”
Couples who wish to convert can choose between a process at a register office or a two-stage process where the registrar can complete the process at another venue, meaning family and friends can attend. All couples that formed their civil partnership before March 29, when it was introduced can receive a £45 reduction fee.
