THIS was the happy but emotional moment when Nick and Caroline Hug celebrated with champagne after taking their wedding vows.

Just 24 hours later that laughter turned to tears when 54-year-old Nick died in the arms of his new bride.

Tomorrow family and friends will bid farewell to one of Hampshire's best-known and most respected musicians.

He sang, played keyboards, guitar and harmonica and was the front man for Deaf Boy Hug, The Hearing Aids and Something for the Weekend.

In the 60s he was in the soul and funk band that backed soul legends Marvin Gaye and Edwin Starr.

Leading the mourners at the funeral service, at St Mary's Catholic Church in Gosport, will be his widow, Caroline, who will cherish the precious moments spent taking those vows.

The brave father of four, who was diagnosed with leukaemia 14 months ago, had been determined to make his wedding day.

Caroline, 44, spoke to the Daily Echo in the lounge of their home where the couple were married in a ceremony which lasted barely five minutes.

"It was here right in this room under special licence. Nick was very ill and he was not well enough to travel," said Caroline, who is still coming to terms with losing the man she loved so much.

Nick showed true courage right to the end as, wracked with pain, he made the journey from the bedroom to the lounge to be at his bride's side.

Caroline said: "Two of his best friends were with him but he would not let them carry him. He was determined to walk down on his own."

Earlier Caroline had helped Nick get dressed in his suit and then she said: "I slipped out of the room, put my dress on and came downstairs and waited in the kitchen for him."

Describing the short ceremony as very poignant, Caroline said: "He did actually manage to smile when we said our vows. He could hardly hold his head up and was very weak.

"I was worried it was too much stress for him and a couple of days before I said You know we can leave this'.

"But he did not want to. Had we left it we would never have got married and I would have been very sad about that."

Because of Nick's worsening condition only about ten guests close family and friends were at the ceremony.

After the photographs, Nick went back to bed and it was there the following day that he died surrounded by the people who loved him.

Nick's bands had entertained thousands up and down country and it was through music that he met Caroline.

He came from a well-known musical family. His cousin, Mike Hug was a founding member of 60s supergroup Manfred Mann. Mike has composed a special tune which he will play on keyboards at Nick's funeral service.

Just hours after the funeral Nick's musical career will be celebrated at the Gosport Waterfront Festival.

Festival organisers plan to show video footage of Nick's many previous appearances.

A spokesman said: "The many band mates he performed with for over 30 years will be using the festival to pay a personal tribute to a man who inspired so many with his musical skills and infectious personality."