Campaigner Alan Bates weds on Richard Branson’s private island
Alan Bates ties the knot on Richard Branson's Caribbean island
Campaigner Sir Alan Bates has tied the knot with his partner Suzanne Sercombe on Sir Richard Branson’s private island in the Caribbean.
Photographs captured the couple, dressed in vibrant clothing, as the Virgin tycoon officiated their wedding on Necker Island, British Virgin Islands, on 27 August.
Sir Richard extended the invitation after Sir Alan, 70, mentioned in a January interview: ‘If Richard Branson is reading this, I’d love a holiday.’ He humorously noted that millions had congratulated him, but ‘there was an issue at the Post Office!’
💍 Sir Alan Bates has married his long-term partner Suzanne Sercombe on Sir Richard Branson’s private Caribbean island – in a ceremony officiated by the Virgin tycoon.
Credit: Instagram / RichardBranson
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— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) September 8, 2024
The wedding surprised Lady Bates, 69, who wore a patterned sundress she had packed for the holiday, according to reports.
Sir Alan, 70, jested that King Charles III, who knighted him in June, was to blame for the wedding, as no one knew how to address his now-wife since the ceremony. He told the Times, ‘I blame the King. It’s been 34 years, and we’ve avoided it, but he really dropped me in it.’
Lady Bates will now be her formal title.
During the ceremony, Sir Richard remarked, ‘What you have accomplished together is no small feat and I’m sure beyond what you ever thought was possible. Your journey began the moment you first met. You took the time to learn what makes the other person smile, what makes them laugh and how to best support each other when life is less than simple. Thanks to your commitment to others, it’s certainly been less than simple. Marriage can bring difficult days, just as they bring beautiful ones. Today is a reminder of what your love has already accomplished, and the amazing possibilities of what it can continue to accomplish in the many, many years ahead of you.’
He added, ‘It was an absolute joy to play a small part in Alan and Suzanne’s love story, and I know they will continue to spread the beautiful light they share with everyone around them.’
Lady Bates discovered the full extent of their trip on Necker Island, where they spent a week before heading to Antigua to celebrate.
Sir Alan gained recognition after a TV drama highlighted his campaign on behalf of subpostmasters, following one of the UK’s biggest miscarriages of justice. Toby Jones portrayed him in the ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, which brought renewed attention to the subpostmasters wrongly prosecuted during the Horizon IT scandal.
Between 1999 and 2015, over 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted by the Post Office due to faults in Fujitsu’s Horizon IT system, which falsely indicated missing money. Many were imprisoned and felt forced to plead guilty to avoid jail.
Actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, who played Sir Alan’s wife in the drama, described Suzanne as ‘the wind beneath his wings.’
Sir Alan established the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance and led 555 subpostmasters in a High Court case against the Post Office. An ongoing inquiry into the scandal calls for better compensation for those affected, many of whom had their lives destroyed by wrongful convictions.
In May, Bates rejected compensation for the second time after the Government offered under a third of his request. He revealed that he was offered just 30 percent of what he believes he is owed. His first offer in January was around 16 percent, which he described as ‘cruel, offensive and derisory.’
Mr Bates lost his Llandudno branch job in 2003 after refusing to accept blame for shortfalls on his account. Years of campaigning revealed he was among approximately 900 subpostmasters wrongly prosecuted due to software issues. Some were imprisoned for false accounting and theft, some faced financial ruin, and some will never see justice as they have since died.
The Government established a compensation scheme called the Group Litigation Order (GLO) last year to provide extra money reflecting the gravity of the claimants’ situations. Applicants can opt for a total fixed sum of £75,000, inclusive of interest, instead of claiming individual losses.
The Post Office Inquiry will resume on 23 September.
What Other Media Are Saying
- The Independent reports that Sir Alan Bates, a prominent campaigner, married Suzanne Sercombe on Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island, with Branson officiating the ceremony.(read more)
- Metro reports Richard Branson officiates the wedding of Sir Alan Bates, a Post Office campaigner, on his private island, marking a surprise ceremony for the couple.(read more)
- Yahoo News UK reports Sir Richard Branson invited a Welsh couple, Sir Alan Bates and Suzanne Sercombe, to his private island Necker for their wedding ceremony, which he officiated, emphasizing the joy of being part of their love story.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who did Sir Alan Bates marry?
Sir Alan Bates married Suzanne Sercombe.
Where did Sir Alan Bates get married?
He got married on Sir Richard Branson’s private island, Necker Island.
Why did Sir Alan Bates become famous?
He became famous for leading a campaign for subpostmasters wrongly prosecuted during the Horizon IT scandal.
What role did Sir Richard Branson play in the wedding?
Sir Richard Branson officiated the wedding.
What compensation issue is Sir Alan Bates involved in?
He rejected the government’s compensation offers for the Horizon IT scandal, considering them inadequate.
