Big Issue vendor marries woman who cried when he gave her money for her electricity bill

THIS is a love story that stemmed from a homeless man’s generosity, and a woman’s desperation to pay her electricity bill.

Big Issue seller marries woman he helped while homeless

IT’S A love story that stemmed from a homeless man’s generosity, and a woman’s desperation to pay her electricity bill.

In 2013, Jack Richardson reduced Toni Osbourne to tears when he asked her for some spare change. But instead of emptying her pockets, Toni burst in to tears, confessing that she couldn’t even afford to pay her electricity bill, let alone help Jack with any spare change.

“I asked her for money, it was just before Christmas and she burst into tears,” Mr Richardson told the BBC.

Big Issue seller Jack Richardson in Bristol file photo See SWNS story SWBIG A homeless Big Issue seller got married to a woman he asked for money while begging Jack Richardson 37 first met wife to be Toni Robinson two years ago as she passed his regular spot When she said she had nothing to give him generous Jack gave HER 50p for her electricity meter so she wouldn t have to spend Christmas in the dark Over the next year Toni 47 regularly walked past his Big Issue pitch outside a central Bristol coffee shop and they became close friends

In a bid to comfort Ms Osbourne, 37-year-old Mr Richardson gave her 50 pence (almost $1) to help with the electricity meter, so she wasn’t left in the dark or the cold over the Christmas period.

“She didn’t have quite enough to put the lights on over Christmas, so I gave her enough to put the lights on,” he said.

From that point forward, love was in the air.

Ms Osbourne started to walk past Mr Richardson on a regular basis, and they soon became friends.

Their friendship soon blossomed into love, and in November 2015, Mr Richardson, who is now a Big Issue seller, proposed to Ms Osbourne at the same spot he gave her the money just a few years earlier.

Now, almost two years since the initial meet — the pair have tied the knot, saying they were inundated with offers to help prepare for the big day.

Jack and Toni Osborne Richardson get married at St Paul s Church Bristol See SWNS story SWBIG A homeless Big Issue seller got married yesterday Sat to a woman he asked for money while begging Jack Richardson 37 first met wife to be Toni Robinson two years ago as she passed his regular spot When she said she had nothing to give him generous Jack gave HER 50p for her electricity meter so she wouldn t have to spend Christmas in the dark Over the next year Toni 47 regularly walked past his Big Issue pitch outside a central Bristol coffee shop and they became close friends

“We’ve had money put by for a dress for Toni, [Big Issue] customers offered to bake cakes for the wedding,” he said.

The couple initially planned to have the ceremony at a registry office, but instead took up the offer of a vicar to do the ceremony, who Mr Richardson met in a soup kitchen

The pair also received offers from wine merchants, photographers and hairdressers.

“I wanted to give my beloved the wedding she deserved but I couldn’t. Thanks to the kindness of people I’ve now been able to,” Mr Richardson said.

Here’s to the happy couple!