Last month marked a whopping thirty years since the wedding of Home and Away's Frank Morgan and Bobby Simpson was shown on British screens. It was the wedding Home and Away fans were waiting for. In fact they had waited long enough just for Frank and Bobby to get together!
Frank and Bobby: Before, during and after the wedding (Dailymotion)
Bobby was a very popular, well-loved character, and fans really wanted to see her get her fairytale ending, so they cheered when Frank proposed and not long after that, they were exchanging vows. Every time a young couple get hitched in an Australian soap, they're always hailed as the 'new Scott and Charlene.' And indeed Frank and Bobby had the potential to be just that had their marriage lasted as long as Mr. and Mrs. Robinson's... Sadly it was not to be and just as quickly as they made it to the altar, they soon parted ways.
Pippa with her girls plus the first glimpse of Bobby in her wedding gown (Dailymotion)
Bobby (Nicolle Dickson) loved her foster brother Frank (Alex Papps) but Frank was besotted with Roo Stewart (Justine Clarke.) Frank eventually realised that Roo was not the woman for him and finally fell for Bobby - and Home And Away fans were ecstatic. But then Bobby had an accident and lost her memory and thought that Frank was still Roo's boyfriend. But Frank wasn't giving up on Bobby that easily and proposed. She rejected his proposal at first but then as her memory returned, she accepted and began to count down the days until she became Mrs. Frank Morgan!
It was a very moving ceremony and the love between Frank and Bobby was clearly evident. The most memorable moment was when Frank and Bobby - having written their own vows, - decided to discard what they had previously written and just speak from the heart. And Bobby, who was known for being a tomboy and hardly ever wore a frock, really rocked that wedding gown! It was as unconventional and unprincessy as she was: strapless; tea-length; with a black underskirt and wrap, without a veil or tiara look! It wouldn't be such an unusual look today - even if it was thirty years ago - but back then it was a style that was ahead of its time.
Frank unable to take his eyes off Bobby (Dailymotion)
Sadly, they'd barely finished writing the thank you cards before Frank decided that he really was in love with Roo after all, and he had married Bobby on the rebound. Roo admitted that she was still in love with Frank too, and a heartbroken Bobby felt that she had no choice but to give Frank and Roo her blessing and move on with her own life. The newly reunited couple left for a new life in New York where they eventually got married.
But that didn't last either, and fickle Frank proved he had a real inability to make up his mind. He returned to Summer Bay to win Bobby back just as she was starting a relationship with single dad Greg Marshall. Although confused by her feelings for Frank at first, Bobby, feisty girl that she was, told Frank just where to go. So he did!
Frank and Bobby's marriage may not have lasted but soap fans still remember their wedding. We take a look at some of Summer Bay's most memorable weddings.
1. FRANK MORGAN and ROO STEWART (1988)
When scheming teenager Roo Stewart discovered that she was pregnant, she immediately told the baby's father - spoilt rich kid, Brett Macklin, who wasted no time in telling her that he wanted nothing to do with the baby and if she went ahead with the pregnancy, then she was on her own. So Roo moved on to plan B - Frank Morgan, her former boyfriend and only the hottest guy in Summer Bay!
Roo set about rekindling their relationship, and it wasn't long before she announced that she was expecting 'their' child, and the happy-parents-to-be started planning their wedding. But it was Frank's foster sister, Bobby Simpson, who detected a rat, and after doing the maths, she worked out that Frank couldn't be the baby's father. However Bobby also had another reason for wanting to stop the wedding - she was secretly in love with Frank; a fact that Roo was all too aware of and she loved taking every opportunity to rub Bobby's nose in it.
It was well-known that Bobby was jealous of Roo, so when she started spreading the word that Roo was expecting someone else's baby, the residents of Summer Bay put it down to the green-eyed monster. Not only did everyone think Bobby was stirring up trouble but she also incurred the wrath of Frank who furiously told her to stay away from Roo - and him.
But Roo's aunt, Morag Bellingham, knew the truth and persuaded Roo not to go through with a marriage based on lies and to come clean before it was too late. Roo wasn't willing to do this but as she stood at the altar with Frank, she heard Morag's words ringing in her ears, and she realised that her aunt was right. So she ran out of the church with Frank in hot pursuit.
It was only when they were outside that Roo tearfully told Frank that the baby wasn't his but that she truly loved him. Hurt and angry, Frank jumped into his car and furiously drove off - and met with an accident after swerving to avoid Bobby. It was touch and go for a while but he pulled through. Roo visited Frank in hospital and begged him for another chance, but while he admitted that he still loved her, Frank refused to give their relationship another go.
Of course, I'm upset! Do you see what I have on my head? (YouTube)
2. BOBBY SIMPSON and GREG MARSHALL (1992)
When Greg and Bobby first met, it was hate at first sight. Greg was the father of Bobby's foster son, Sam, and he wanted his son back. Bobby, feeling that Greg was a neglectful dad, didn't want him taking custody of Sam.
We are ABSOLUTELY getting married today. No way is this barnet going to waste! (Dailymotion)
But they called a truce for Sam's sake - and ended up falling in love much to Sam's delight. Then Greg decided he wanted to make their family unit more official and decided to propose to Bobby. So along with Sam, he filmed a proposal on the beach, and planned to surprise Bobby by playing her the video that evening.
Unfortunately it didn't go to plan, as Bobby fell asleep before they got to the part where Greg proposed. Knowing that Bobby didn't get to see Greg propose to her, Sam played the video for her the next day - and a delighted Bobby accepted Greg's proposal.
However on the morning of the wedding, things got off to a bad start when Sam got his fingers stuck down the bath's plug hole, and had to be freed by the fire brigade - causing Greg and Bobby to miss their own ceremony. But then the couple decided to see if there were any celebrants available to perform the ceremony outdoors. And what do you know - there was!
The beautiful ceremony (Dailymotion)
So the wedding finally went ahead and surrounded by their family and friends, Greg and Bobby made their vows and became man and wife. And while Bobby was a traditional-with-a-twist bride the first time round, she rocked a sixties vibe this time with a mini dress, bobbed hair and alice band.
Although their short marriage had more ups and downs than a merry-go-round, Greg and Bobby remained married until her tragic death in a boating accident.
3. SHANE PARRISH and ANGEL BROOKS (1995)
What's that they say, that when a boy is mean to a girl it's because he secretly likes her? Well we don't know how true that is, but it certainly was the case for Shane (Dieter Brummer) and Angel (Melissa George.) If ever there was a twosome who could steal the soap couple crown from Neighbours Scott and Charlene, it would be Shane and Angel.
The bride and groom with their support acts (Dailymotion)
Despite the animosity between them - initially caused by Angel selling Shane fake concert tickets when they first met - Shane and Angel had feelings for each other, which took them a while to admit. But when they finally admitted the truth to each other, they got together and became one of Summer Bay's most memorable couples.
Angel determined to take her last steps as Miss Brookes (Dailymotion)
There were many ups and downs in this relationship with the teen couple forever breaking up and making up. But Shane knew that Angel was the girl for him and proposed. Plans were soon underway for another Summer Bay wedding. However, in the run up to their wedding, Angel was knocked over by Alf Stewart and was unable to walk.
First kiss as Mr. and Mrs (Dailymotion)
But come the big day, Angel was determined that she wasn't going to be wheeled down the aisle in her wheelchair and insisted on walking towards her groom. And supported by Donald Fisher who had agreed to walk her down the aisle, Angel did just that and - despite one heart-stopping moment when she stumbled - viewers were moved. Angel wore a glamourous, vintage style satin gown with lace overcoat to become Mrs. Parrish, which Melissa George described as 'very thirties, very Angel.'
4. TRAVIS NASH and REBECCA FISHER (1997)
Travis was all set to marry his fiancée, Dr. Kelly Watson, but Kelly decided that she couldn't go through with the wedding and left the Bay, breaking poor Travis's heart. But Travis eventually found love again with their mutual friend, Rebecca Fisher, daughter of Summer Bay High headmaster, Donald. They moved in together, and inspired by a story that they heard from an elderly couple who had been married a long time, Travis and Rebecca decided that they too wanted to get hitched.
They both decided on a very low-key ceremony on the beach with family and close friends, with Rebecca's father, Donald, presiding as the celebrant. They also decided not to tell any of the guests that they were being invited to a wedding and planned to surprise everyone when they got there - but smart Irene Roberts had already twigged...
But the surprises weren't just for the guests. The happy couple had promised each other they wouldn't buy each other gifts. But Travis couldn't resist buying an anklet for Rebecca, and Rebecca's gift for Travis?
SIA (YouTube)
A performance by Travis's favourite band, SIA on the beach right after the ceremony. The newlywed Mr. and Mrs. Nash settled into married life after moving into the former Fletcher home, though they eventually left the Bay to start work on a tall ship before setting up home in Canada and having a son.
5. JAMES FRASER and CHLOE RICHARDS (1999)
Chloe Richards should have got her fairytale ending when she fell in love with Lachlan Fraser and baby Olivia soon came along. But their happiness was short-lived when Lachlan started experiencing headaches and was later diagnosed with a brain tumour. After surgery, Lachlan needed to go to America for further treatment. But what was only supposed to be a temporary move became more permanent when Lachlan met and fell in love with another woman who he eventually married.
Chloe with the real love of her life - Lachlan Fraser (YouTube)
Naturally Chloe was left feeling devastated. But it was during this time that Lachlan's brother, James, came to see Chloe and Olivia. Gradually Chloe and James started to fall in love and it was during this whirlwind romance that James proposed - and Chloe accepted. But in the run up to the wedding, James started having doubts and felt that Chloe still loved Lachlan. On the day of the wedding, James was dismayed to see that Chloe was wearing the locket that contained photos of her and Lachlan as she approached the altar, so he turned and fled and Chloe went after him.
Once outside, James told Chloe that he knew that she still had feelings for his brother and told her how hurt he was that she was wearing the locket on their wedding day. So Chloe opened the locket and showed James that she had replaced Lachlan's photo with his. Convinced that Chloe had moved on from Lachlan, James went ahead with the wedding and the two became Mr. and Mrs. James Fraser. But the marriage wasn't without problems causing James and Chloe to separate for a while. And it was during this separation that Chloe and James heard that Lachlan had died of a hemorrhage. Chloe realised that she could never love James the way that she loved Lachlan, and with a heavy heart she ended their short marriage and left Summer Bay with little Olivia - although she agreed to stay friends with James. Years later when Chloe was killed in a car crash, James was given custody of his niece as stipulated by the conditions of Chloe's will.
What was your favourite Home and Away wedding?
Photos from YouTube and Dailymotion
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Frank was an absolute @%&@ for what he did to Bobby. And Bobby was known for being this tough street kid who you didn't mess with but she let him and Ruth off the hook far too easily.
@Sherbette: What surprised me more was that Frank had the cheek to go running back to Bobby after the way he treated her. Was glad she sent him packing!
The only surprise is that Frank and Roo ended up getting a divorce. I didn't think they would of.
@Sherbette - at the time I thought that Frank was genuinely in love with Bobby. I did not see him running off with Roo - but I should have!
I loved Bobbi but I think we all knew that Frank would end up with Roo again.