From choir rehearsal to wedding bells: Dorset couple find perfect harmony through choir for those living with and beyond cancer
Adrian joined Jacky at a Rising Voices choir rehearsal early in their relationship,
and seven years later, the same choir sang at their countryside wedding.
Dorset couple Jacky and Adrian Bennett found love at a Poole-based community choir seven years ago and have recently celebrated their wedding with friends from the Lewis-Manning Rising Voices Choir.
Jacky, mother of six and Nanna to six, first joined Rising Voices in 2012 to support a close friend living with cancer. After her friend died in 2015, the laughter, friendship, and understanding she found within the group kept her coming back. When Jacky later experienced cancer herself, the same community rallied around her.
Jacky and Adrian first met at a children’s Christmas party in December 2017, as both were helping a friend with her singing business. Jacky, dressed as an elf for the party, accidentally walked in on Adrian as he changed into a Father-Christmas costume and made a swift, red-faced exit.
Around 18 months later, in July 2019, Adrian offered Jacky a lift to Swanage Carnival in his friend’s car. He asked her out the following day, and Rising Voices became part of their story later that year.
Jacky said, “We had been out to lunch together when Adrian asked if I wanted to meet up again later. I told him I had choir, so he came along and soon became part of the group. Rising Voices has been with us throughout our relationship, and hearing our friends sing at the wedding meant the world to us.
“Everyone understands the difficult experiences that bring people to the choir, but illness is not the only thing in the room. We sing, laugh, support each other, and get on with living.”
Adrian, a father of two and grandfather of two from Poole, lost his first wife to lung cancer in 2011. He describes himself as a ‘nerd’ who loves ships, trains, planes, and spreadsheets, and says Rising Voices gave him connection and purpose during a period of rebuilding.
Adrian added: “Joining Jacky at rehearsal was not how I expected an evening date to unfold, but Rising Voices made me feel welcome from the start. People understand loss and illness without needing everything explained, and there is always friendship and laughter.
“Having Wendy play the harp and our friends sing at the wedding brought so much of our story together. Sharing the celebration with everyone felt exactly right.”
Jacky and Adrian married at a countryside ceremony on 6 June 2026. Musical Director Wendy Morrow played the harp as the couple exchanged vows before choir members performed during the celebrations. The group’s involvement brought together friends from the Lewis-Manning Rising Voices Choir who have supported Jacky and Adrian throughout their relationship.
Earlier in 2026, Rising Voices Wessex joined Lewis-Manning Hospice Care and became the Lewis-Manning Rising Voices Choir. The group creates a supportive community for people living with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses, alongside families, carers, and those experiencing bereavement.
Clare Gallie, Chief Executive of Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, said: “Jacky and Adrian’s story reflects the warmth and sense of belonging at the heart of Rising Voices. The choir gives people a place where they feel understood and included, while creating space for laughter, confidence, connection, and joy.
“Lewis-Manning cares for the whole person, and strong relationships are an important part of helping people live well. We are delighted that Rising Voices has played such an important role in Jacky and Adrian’s lives and that choir members shared their wedding day.”
The choir meets every Tuesday from 6:45pm to 9pm at Longfleet House on Longfleet Road in Poole. Members do not need to audition or read music. Rising Voices forms part of Lewis-Manning’s anticipatory approach to care, supporting people earlier in their illness so they can live well, maintain independence, and build strong networks.
