Fairytale ending as bride’s ring stolen from Wisborough Green church on wedding day is replaced

CHRISTMAS has come early for a bride whose bespoke engagement ring was stolen on her wedding day in a Wisborough Green church - after a kind-hearted jeweller made her a replica.
Caroline and James Granshaw on their wedding dayCaroline and James Granshaw on their wedding day
Caroline and James Granshaw on their wedding day

Caroline Marshall, 32, and James Granshaw, 29, were left heartbroken when a handbag containing Caroline’s sapphire and diamond-encrusted platinum band was stolen as they got married in the church of St Peter ad Vincula, in Wisborough Green, on June 7.

Despite a £1,000 reward the ring, worth £6,000, has never been recovered.

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But jeweller Ashraf Ahmed was so moved by the couple’s plight he has given them an identical ring. Mr Ahmed, who is based in Dubai, was waiting for a flight in Hong Kong airport when he read about their story. His design team carefully set the new ring in platinum with diamonds to match the original design,

An engagement ring worth £6000 stolen from a wedding ceremony in Wisborough Green SUS-141206-173645001An engagement ring worth £6000 stolen from a wedding ceremony in Wisborough Green SUS-141206-173645001
An engagement ring worth £6000 stolen from a wedding ceremony in Wisborough Green SUS-141206-173645001

Mrs Granshaw said: “I am truly overwhelmed by Mr Ahmed’s generosity.

“It’s been a difficult time as it cast a shadow over our wedding day but I’m thrilled with my new ring and I can’t thank him enough.”

The original ring was hand-designed by James at an ethical London jewellers, and the couple said it was of ‘priceless’ sentimental value.

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Thanking the Observer for its publicity in trying to help recover the ring, Mrs Granshaw’s father-in-law, Mervyn, said: “You kindly helped with some publicity and we continue to have literally thousands of hits on the Facebook page my daughter set up and on our Twitter feed.

“You asked me to let you know what happened and I am now in a position to do that.

“I guarantee its not what you (or I) expected.

“A British born, now Dubai-based jeweller, Mr Ashraf Ahmed, saw a news item about the theft whilst he was in - of all places - Hong Kong airport waiting for a flight.

“He was so upset to learn of the theft that he made contact with us and offered to source and have made a near-identical sapphire, diamond and platinum ring in his facilities in Sri Lanka and Dubai.

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“This week the ring was delivered to James and I now have a very happy daughter-in-law again with a beautiful ring back on her finger.

“We had so much support from all quarters, for which I am eternally grateful, and without this we would not have had this fairytale ending.

“In this season of goodwill, I would very much like to let everyone know that there are some kind people in this world.”

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