Geelong couple recall how Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin crashed their wedding

Former Geelong mayor Jim Fidge and his wife Prue recall how Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin tried to crash their wedding.

NEIL Armstrong’s “one small step for a man” almost crashed Jim and Prue Fidge’s wedding, and 50 years later it’s trying to eclipse their golden anniversary.

The Geelong couple will celebrate half a century of wedded bliss in a few weeks; on July 21 — the same time the world will remember Armstrong’s famous moon walk.

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Mr Fidge — who later became Geelong mayor — and his wife said they became a bit worried when they found out the moon landing was happening on their wedding day.

Mrs Fidge said she had no idea the moon landing would be on their big day, and that they only found out a few days before the wedding.

“We were really afraid they were going to be landing late in the afternoon so our guests would rather be glued to the TV than see our wedding,” Ms Fidge said.

Mr Fidge remember the chaos in the streets of Melbourne, when he was trying to buy his wedding shoes.

Prue and Jim Fidge were married at the same time as the first moon landing. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

“I could barely get into the shops there were so many people crowded outside watching the TV’s,” Mr Fidge said.

While people were busy watching the moon landing Mr Fidge was frantically trying to find shoes to wear to his wedding that afternoon.

“I was getting a bit concerned the landing would still be going on by the time the guests arrived in Melbourne,” Mr Fidge said.

Luckily for the couple the landing happened earlier in the day, and did not disrupt the wedding.

As Armstrong took his first steps on the surface of the moon Ms Fidge was getting her hair done, while her bridesmaids popped the champagne for them all to celebrate.

“It was exciting but after all it was my wedding day so I was pretty excited anyway, we were already having a party,” Ms Fidge said.

“A good thing about this coincidence is that people always remember the day of our anniversary and gives us a call.”

On the anniversary of the moon landing the couple are celebrating their 50 years together, over a dinner with their family and bridal party.

Originally published as Geelong couple recall how Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin crashed their wedding