A couple who are regular visitors to the TT chose the island as their place to have their special day this year.

Jim and Karen Dury were married on the Thursday of race week in St Stephen’s at Sulby by Reverend Iaen Skidmore.

The couple who live in Mangotsfield, Bristol, have been coming to the TT for as a couple for six years but decided this year to get married.

Mrs Dury told the Examiner: ’The island is a place we feel a connection with and is just so lovely, the culture, the people, everything.

’When we first came over together, we watched the races at Sulby Straight and Jim’s dad first watched the races there in 1953 so getting married in that church made it extra special.’

The wedding was conducted at 9am on Thursday of race week.

Reverend Skidmore explained the unusual time was chosen because as everyone knows the island’s weather is unpredictable.

He added: ’It was a good wedding, a bit unusual but really nice to do for the couple.

’It was a cracking day and some of the bikers who rode past beeped and waved at them outside the church, I wish them a lifetime of happiness.’

Last year’s TT was so disrupted by inclement weather that time was allowed for the couple time to get married before the roads closed and watch the racing if there had been a day’s delay.

But, luckily for them, the 2018 TT saw the best weather the island has had in many years with very minimal delays in any of this year’s racing.

Mrs Dury added: ’It was Reverend Skidmore who suggested the time, in case of any closure, he said as long as we were happy getting married at 9am, he was happy to get there for 9am.

’And he’s such a nice man, he supported us all along the way and gave a great service that was just perfect for us.

’He’s a biker too, we really can’t think of anyone better suited to marry us.’

The couple explained their friends who they travel to the island with, and a couple of marshals from the north of England, were their guests at the ceremony.

They later held a brunch at the Crosby pub.

Mrs Dury said: ’We only went in and asked the pub is they could do something a couple of days before but the staff there sorted us a gorgeous table with flowers on the patio.’

The couple travel the island for TT every year, coming for 10/11 days and have been home-staying for the past three years.

While the dust is just settling on this years TT, Mr and Mrs Dury say they are all booked up to come back next year.

Mrs Dury added: ’We’d swim here if we had to. We’re both really looking forward to next year.

’The Manx people are just so lovely.’