Newport woman Cheryl Mason married toy boy Kenyan, Daniel Lekimencho, at Newport Registry Office on Valentine’s Day 1995.
Cheryl then went on to write the book ‘White Mischief’ about her experiences.
At the time of their marriage, 34-year-old Cheryl was 10 years older than her 6ft 3in Masai warrior husband, who was also a foot taller in height.
The couple arrived at the registry office in a green vintage Bentley. Daniel wore a traditional red tribal costume for the ceremony, with Cheryl also wearing a Masai-style robe.
Before the ceremony, hairdresser Cheryl had had Daniel’s name tattooed on her chest.
The marriage – which was 1 of 10 to take place at the registry office on that day – drew crowds of onlookers to County Hall.
Cheryl giggled as the pair exchanged rings and vows. Tribal dancer Daniel – who only spoke broken English – stuttered through the ceremony.
After the ceremony, Cheryl sped away in the open top Bentley to her former marital home in Carisbrooke for drinks with ex-husband Mike, relatives and friends.
39-year-old Michael Mason, who remained friends with his ex-wife, said:
“I was invited to the registry office ceremony but felt it would be wrong to go along.
“I just spent time with a few friends while the wedding actually took place.”
Cheryl’s 4-year-old daughter Chloe – clutching a stuffed lion – was a bridesmaid at the ceremony. 2 boys from Cheryl’s previous marriage – 12-year-old Stevie and 10-year-old Tommy – stayed away, but decided to go to the reception.
Daniel and Cheryl had met when Cheryl went on holiday to Kenya. She then left her husband to live with Daniel in a remote area of Africa, before he moved to the Isle of Wight. But Daniel was later deported from Britain after his 3x extended tourist visa expired.
Cheryl then lived with Daniel in Kenya for 4 months.
In December 1995, the Home Office awarded Daniel a 12-month probationary visa, which he used to return to Britain. He then found a job as a bakery assistant in a supermarket, and the couple moved to a 3-bed semi in Cowes.
Daniel and Cheryl had a daughter, Misti, who featured in the following Island Echo article in 2017.
