Vintage wedding dress donated with touching note raises £3,000

A mystery man donated the 1950s dress to St Gemma’s Hospice at one of the charity’s shops in Leeds with a note about the “happy years” he spent with his bride.

Now the man behind the dress has been found, and after the heart-warming story went global, the dress, which appears to be custom-made, finally sold for £2,910 on the hospice’s eBay page.

The note read: “I wish any lady who takes this dress to have a life with her loved one, 56 years, like I did. Happy years.”

The note went on: “I was a lucky man to marry a lady like mine.”

Nicola Woodgate, the communications manager at the hospice, said: “The response was phenomenal.

“We received enquiries from the USA, Australia and Hong Kong.

“After a media appeal, we eventually tracked down the kind gentleman who donated the gown.

“He wishes to remain anonymous but he’s absolutely thrilled with the reaction and is overwhelmed that his special donation received global acclaim.”

She added: “It’s been an amazing couple of weeks for St Gemma’s Hospice.

“The money raised will be put to very good use providing expert care for terminally ill patients and their families.”

The hospice in north Leeds told The Yorkshire Post they understood the vintage wedding dress was eventually sold to a buyer within the United Kingdom.