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Welsh football star Aaron Ramsey had his own match of the day on Saturday when he married his childhood sweetheart Colleen Rowlands at ancient Caldicot Castle in Monmouthshire.

Guests at their sun blessed wedding included Rhymney Valley born Aaron’s Arsenal team mate Theo Walcott, ruled out of the World Cup by injury, world record transfer fee breaking Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale and former Wales star Craig Bellamy.

Aaron and Collen, who went to Ysgol Gyfyn Cwm Rhymni in Blackwood together, asked all guests to donate money to the Parkinsons UK charity via Justgiving rather than bring gifts.

They wrote on Colleen’s Justgiving page: “We are very blessed people and we know we are also hard to buy for – so instead of gifts we would like to offer our guests the opportunity to give to charity.

“The many hard working people at Parkinson’s UK will put your donations to very good use.”

Speaking of his link to the Parkinson’s UK charity, Aaron explained: “Unfortunately we lost my uncle a few years ago to the complications that come with Parkinson’s.

“He was fit and healthy and really active and seeing how quickly your health deteriorates when you’re diagnosed with Parkinson’s was really upsetting and hard to take. “

Ramsey prepared for his big day on Saturday with a game of golf on Friday with Welsh international team mate Chris Gunter, who was his housemate when he first joined Arsenal from Cardiff.

The Arsenal star, who once used to drive around Caerphilly where he grew up in a lime green Ford Fiesta complete with black and white squares on top, arrived at Caldicot Castle in style – by helicopter.

Kerry Pritchard of Caldicot said on her Facebook page on Saturday: “Saw Aaron Ramsey fly into Caldicot Castle in a helicopter today for his wedding.

“His bride-to-be arrived five minutes later in a car. Everyone was watching his arrival and nearly missed her. He flew out again in the same helicopter three hours later.”

And Caldicot’s Tony Cartwright wrote on Facebook: “Big wedding in Caldicot Castle, Aaron Ramsey married a Caldicot girl, Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott spotted arriving, Bale by helicopter, Ramsey also by helicopter.