The first legal civil partnership took place on 5 December between Matthew Roche and Christopher Cramp at St Barnabas Hospice, Worthing, West Sussex. The statutory 15-day waiting period after giving notice was waived as Roche was suffering from a terminal illness: he died the following day. "'Gay wedding' man dies of cancer". BBC News. 6 December 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2006.