Clive and Brenda Blunden's relationship was questioned by many but nothing affected the love they shared.
There are all sorts of relationships in this world, mother-daughter, father-son, boyfriend-girlfriend, husband-wife, and many others. But the husband and wife of this story might be the strangest you've come across.
Clive and Brenda Blunden have been together for more than three decades and have been happily married for 13 years but here's the catch - Brenda used to be Clive's mother-in-law.
But their journey wasn't an easy one. The couple started dating in 1989 four years after Clive divorced his wife, Irene to whom he was married for eight years, reported The Daily Mail. In 1997, the duo announced their plan to marry but the society wasn't ready for such a relationship and so Clive was arrested due to a "lawful impediment." He was told that he could be locked up for seven years.
But the man loved Brenda too much to let it go so easily and so they ended up changing her name through deed poll. Clive then dedicated his time to work towards changing the law. Ten years later, in 2005, the court overturned the ancient law that stopped parents-in-law from marrying their sons and daughters-in-law.
Talking to The Mirror, Clive said, "I remember when we heard the news on the TV, in September 2005. I went down on one knee straight away and proposed to Brenda. I had tears in my eyes.” The couple tied the knot in 2007 and have been together ever since. He added, “People thought we wouldn’t last but we are stronger than ever. We’re together 24/7 and there’s a magic to it.”
While the family and Clive's ex-wife preferred not to attend the ceremony, one distant relative did send them a congratulations card. The couple remembers the day being an "emotional" but "wonderful day."
According to Clive, marrying Brenda has been the best thing he's ever done. Not only did it change him as a person but he "felt different straight away." He continued, "I was more relaxed. Until we got married I felt something was missing. We’ve been through a lot so to come out of it the other end is an achievement. What made it perfect for me is we can be on our own all day and still get along. We would do it all again.”
Brenda feels the same for her former son-in-law. She said, “Clive is caring and lovable and he looks after me very well. We do argue and I think I have always been a challenge to Clive. But it is about give and take and trust."
She does admit that Clive has some annoying habits like nail-biting. "His nail-biting drives me mad," she said and added, "I still joke about how much I disliked him when he was going out with my daughter and became my son-in-law." The couple revealed that they usually don't discuss how they met with strangers but when they do, nobody believes them.
Earlier this year, Brenda suffered from some health problems but she's grateful to have had Clive around. She said, “Oxygen wasn’t getting to my heart and they had to put a pacemaker in. Thankfully, I’m doing smashing now. Clive’s my carer – he does everything for me. We’re still so happy.”
When Irene spoke to The Mirror in 2012, she said that mom "betrayed" her. She believed that her marriage with Clive was forever but “I don’t know who my mum is anymore," she said and added, "Clive has split our family. I’ll never forgive him.”
Previously the ex-wife had accused Clive of violent behavior and stated that as the reason for their divorce but Clive and Brenda dismissed it by saying, "It's all lies. Our marriage broke down because I was working nights at the time and we are friends today - she's been coming round to our house all the time."
Brenda revealed that now, she had reconciled with her daughter and has a close relationship.
References:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/man-marries-mother-law-after-22695330
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/man-who-married-his-mum-in-laws-angry-1676706
