Wendy swaps walking boots for wedding gown

WENDY Sylvester completed her mammoth 400 mile fundraiser walk at the Scotland-England border, before tying the knot with her partner at Gretna Green two days later.

The 51-year-old, who lives in Aviemore, has raised a brilliant £,800 so far for Poppyscotland.

She completed the five-week trek entirely self-funded, relying on the generosity of local people, friends and businesses.

And she was joined along the way by friends, family, armed forces personnel and her partner Brian Munro.

Her journey concluded at the Scottish border on 29 November.

And, in a lovely twist, Wendy and Brian had decided, after planning the walk, they would get married at Gretna Green.

So, they tied the knot over the anvil surrounded by family and friends.

This is the second time Wendy has carried out such a fundraising activity for Poppyscotland, having previously raised over £5000 in 2021 by walking from Dunnottar Castle, in Aberdeenshire, to Eilean Donan Castle, in Ross and Cromarty.

She said: "I did a walk at the end of 2021 where I walked from the east coast to the west coast.

"Friends have always joked that, because I did east to west, I should do north to south.

"I was stunned that I completed it. I have still not had time to process it."

Wendy has a deep personal connection to the armed forces through her own service as a combat medic with 7 Scots and her family’s military background.

She added: "I'm former forces, my dad was in the Royal Navy and my partner was in the Black Watch. This is my way of saying thank you.

"I think I've raised around £8800. I'm super delighted, it's more than I thought I would raise."

Above: Wendy Sylvester and Brian Munro at Gretna Green