A WIDOW said she has been left devastated after her newly-wed husband passed away on their honeymoon.

Wendy Honour, 66, from Bicester, married her “soulmate” Freddie Reeves, 68, at the Littlebury Hotel in Kings End, Bicester, in front of 100 family and friends on May 2.

The couple went to Turkey for their honeymoon a few days later but 10 days into their trip Mr Reeves died suddenly after collapsing during a boat trip. Mrs Reeves said: “Everybody said it was the best wedding they had been to and that they had never seen Freddie look as happy as he did when he was with me, which was lovely to hear. He was well loved and well known.

“We went on honeymoon on May 8 and Freddie passed away on May 18. It is just terrible.It is still very hard but he went quick and didn’t suffer. Everyone is just stunned and still are. It is very hard.”

The couple were on a boat trip when Mr Reeves suddenly passed away.

One of four children, Mr Reeves grew up in a house on the former Franklins Yard car park, before moving to Launton Road and later to a bungalow built by his father Edward in St John’s Street. During his childhood he was a member of the choir at St Edburg’s Church.

He attended St Edburg’s School and Bicester School before taking up work around the area, including at Banbury Homes and Gardens for about 25 years.

Mrs Reeves’ daughter Louise Thomas brought the couple together after bumping into Mr Reeves in the town centre and introducing them.

They kept in touch and after a few attempts eventually arranged their first date at the Littlebury Hotel in November 2013.

Mrs Reeves added: “We found love later in life and it has just been snatched away so cruelly.

“He was an amazing person, kind, generous and we never argued. He knew so many people and was loved by everybody.

“Everyone was so shocked and devastated. I can imagine at his funeral there will be a lot of people.”

Mr Reeves was treasurer of the BTFC Golf Society based at The Angel pub in Sheep Street for more than 25 years.

He was also a member of the Ashton Club, the treasurer there for 15 to 20 years, and was involved in football teams across the town.

His brother Michael Reeves, who lives in Mansfield, said: “Freddie had always lived in Bicester and was known by a lot of people. He loved travelling and had been to loads of places like South Africa, America and Australia. I can honestly say he enjoyed his life.

“Coming out of his last relationship he spent about three months living in a one bed flat and it started getting to him. Then to find somebody that he got on so well with especially, it is a shame. It was just not meant to be.”

The family are waiting for a coroner’s verdict before a funeral date can be arranged.