Year 1967: A Notable Turning Point in American History

In the summer of 1967, on a warm, sunny afternoon that felt like the start of a new era, a wedding took place. The occasion was marked by an eclectic mix of characters, unforgettable moments, and a few unexpected incidents.

The wedding ceremony was held in a church filled with laughter and whispers. As the writer's mother, a shocking, tipsy blonde, the spit of Barbara Windsor, skipped up the aisle, the old Toms, wide boy young Dicks, and breast-fed baby-faced Harrys whistled and cheered. The congregation, smashed on cheap booze before they even got to the church, added to the lively atmosphere.

The reception was held at The King's Head on the Romford Road. The band for the evening was The Freddie Cortino Three, a group found on a building site and who looked like complete chancers. Despite their unconventional appearance, they provided the perfect soundtrack for the festivities. However, there was an incident when a young boy attempted to sing 'That's Alright Mama', only to be kicked for it.

The best man at the wedding, Tony Gilbert, fainted before the appearance of the rings. He was quickly resuscitated with smelling salts and a brandy stiffener. The writer's father, known for his Bethnal Green boxing stance and winkle pickers, had banned the band from singing anything by Elvis.

In an unexpected turn of events, the writer's mother fell out of the horse-drawn carriage as it parked up at the church, laughing as she tried to right herself. Wives and girlfriends gasped, half in jealousy, half in admiration, as the writer's mother walked up the aisle.

The evening was filled with laughter, tears, and even a fistfight involving the landlord and the writer's dad near dawn. The reception was attended by various characters, including tinkers, tailors, celebrity gangsters, and the local constabulary.

As the night drew to a close, the newlyweds, the writer's parents, left for Basildon the next morning, starting their new life together. The photograph, a snapshot of the wedding reception, captures the spirit of the day - a day filled with love, laughter, and a few punch-ups.