Couple humbled by Cornish spirit

THE WEDDING dreams of a young local couple went up in smoke with the Falmouth Beach Hotel.

Tom Shainberg, from Porthleven, and Lisa Webb, from Helston, had planned their 300-guest wedding for more than a year.

But even as the fire gutted the building people started to offer help after Tom's father Gary put out an appeal on Twitter.

The couple have been bowled over by the generosity and "the Cornish spirit that has shone through".

Tom said: "It's been devastating. We've spent a year planning the day of our dreams and then in the span of a phone call we found out our wedding reception venue had burnt down. Everything just collapsed around us."

Although grateful no one was hurt, he added: "It's not just our wedding. You have got to think about the local community – it's people's jobs and it's a big thing for the local economy."

"The response has been incredible.

"Both of us have had loads of phone calls and a lot of venues have called and said they were there to help."

The couple, who got engaged in March 2011, had invited 120 guests to the wedding in Porthleven and another 180 to the evening reception.

As well as a new venue they needed alternative accommodation for about 70 family and friends coming from across the UK and abroad.

But by Tuesday afternoon new arrangements were going well with a new venue agreed, but being kept private.

"It's been an emotional couple of days," he said.

Tom said: "All of the family are running around and offering help.

"We've been humbled by the local community and the Cornish spirit that has shone through."