A NEWLY-WED couple who feared precious memories of their wedding day had been been lost forever after their photographs were stolen have had them returned.

Alex and Mark Fane appealed for the return of their wedding photographs in the Journal after a camera, containing the memory card of photographs, was stolen from a marquee at the couple’s wedding reception party last month.

The memory card was returned to the Journal’s office in Rollestone Street last week and given back to the couple.

Alex said: “We feel very lucky to have our precious memory card back, and our faith in human kindness has been much restored. Apart from managing to nudge the conscience of whoever took the camera, we have been helped and supported by many including local press and radio and even social media. We believe that it is because of our campaign and social pressure being applied that the card was returned.”

The couple’s wedding party had been held at their home in Upper Burgate near Fordingbridge during the early hours of Sunday, September 10.

The Canon 5D Mark III camera, belonging to a professional photographer, had been concealed under a table and only left for about 10 minutes. During this time Alex told the Journal some “uninvited guests” turned up at the party and were told to leave. It was later discovered that the camera was missing.

“We never really believed we would get the card back but we hoped we might and we made as much effort as we could think of to try and locate it and/ or exert pressure on the individual(s) who took the camera,” said Alex.

“We would like to say thank you to the person who took the camera for returning the card. We would urge this person not to steal anything again, but to find help either from their family or from a counsellor. Stealing is an illness or often it is a means to funding addiction. There is obviously good in this person so we would like to say — please put the bad days behind you.

“It probably goes without saying that it would be really great if he or she could also return the camera itself. This was the photographer’s tool and her livelihood. The episode has cost her in every respect. People say the insurance will pay up, but as many know, it is rarely straight forward. We have our memories back now, so she is the one bearing the greatest loss.”

The theft has been reported to the police. Anyone with information is asked to contact Hampshire police by calling 101 and quoting reference 44170351059.