A taxi company boss who flew to Spain to give his daughter away at her wedding died after suffering a suspected heart attack in Marbella. Lance Ridden, 66, collapsed shortly after arriving for the ceremony, but his family ensured the wedding went ahead as planned.
His sons walked daughter Hannah down the aisle, and his wife Sue read a speech Lance had carefully prepared. Sue said: 'After it happened, I just wanted to fly home. Hannah and Jack said they would call it off if I did. We had mixed feelings, but ultimately, it’s what Lance would have wanted.'
Hannah and husband Jack Bates had already held a smaller register office wedding at Danson House in south east London a few weeks earlier, where Lance was able to fulfil his role as father-of-the-bride. The Spanish ceremony was a blessing for family and friends.
Lance, a father of five, built up a large South East taxi business with co-owner Mark Robinson over 20 years, taking over six competitor firms. His parents Joyce and John started running cars from their spare room in 1967, and Lance washed cabs for pocket money before taking a welder's apprenticeship and securing contracts in the Middle East and north east England.
He married first wife Amanda, with whom he had daughter Hannah, 32. He later worked as a council bailiff before buying cab firm Vokes when the owner retired. Lance married Sue in 2005, and she described their life together as 'eventful and fun'.
Sue said: 'We are a blended family and all get on very well, but if anything, this has brought us closer.' The couple enjoyed travelling abroad and Lance loved watersports, football, and boating.
