April 21st 1971: The ordinary folk of Great Britain were getting to grips with a new decimal currency, Neil Diamond was riding high in the hit parade with 'I Am I Said', HRH Queen Lizzy II was tucking into a big birthday cake and 2 lovely young people in Walthamstow, East London were celebrating the arrival of their first born (whilst also waiting for the ink to dry on their marriage certificate!!!). A bouncing baby boy whom they called Neil (after Mr Armstrong the moonwalker and not, as previously believed, Mr Diamond who' the young mum was a big fan of). Had Neil's Father had his way, Neil wouldn've been christened  'Simon'. Thankfully he didn't so Neil learnt at a very early age to be thankful for small mercies.

  Being two young newly-weds, very much in love, it wasn't long before Neil's folks were at it again and soon Neil had a baby sister, Sarah Anne, to keep him company.

  With their new family complete, the happy band upped sticks and leaving Walthamstow behind them, headed to Benfleet, South East Essex, hot on the heels of the children's Godfather, Den, who had recently moved there.

  For the most part, Neil's childhood was pretty regular and he couldn't of asked for a better upbringing. It's true that his parents were often struggling to make ends meet  but they would never see their children go without, often at great personal sacrifice but Neil & Sarah's parents had something that money couldn't buy - total unconditional love for their children. - A love that's as strong today as it was over 30 years ago.

  From an early age, Neil developed an interest in Photography and, thanks to the support & enthusiasm of 2 wonderful people, Neil's Uncle Paul and the aforementioned Godfather, 'Uncle' Den, Neil had, at the age of fourteen, his first darkroom set up in his Mum's laundry closet and had, inadvertently, mapped out his future career. It was therefore a logical step that, after finishing his O Levels, Neil should head off to Art College in sunny Sothend-on-sea....

Art College was fun. Neil had a great time and made some good friends. Something, however, wasn't quite right. It was even 'less' right when Neil dated girls and quickly realised that he didn't like 'doing things' with them and was always more keen to meet their brothers.

  The signs were there at an early age. Whilst the other boys in the school playground wanted to be Superman, Neil was running behind  bikesheds to magically spin into Wonder Woman. At aged 15, Neil's most treasured poster was one of Morten Harkett (from A-ha) lifting himself out of a swimming pool clad only in the skimpiest of speedos and Neil just loved it when his Mum played her Dusty Springfield albums....

  Neil didn't think much of all this at the time but now, at college, was starting to realise that he may not be quite like the other boys but since the only homosexuals at Southend Tech were rather scary and 'way out' individuals Neil decided to put a lid on his feelings for now and worry about them later....

  With Art College over and walking away with a Diploma in Photography, Neil's life was about to become very colourful.

  Neil took a local job with a sports photo agency in Benfleet. It was only Mondays to Fridays and at weekends Neil would begin to take regular trips into London, often just wandering aimlessly around the Capital. It was great 'thinking time' for Neil and also a very exciting place for a young guy to be. Soon, the days spent in The West End would become nights as Neil started to make new friends, friends that would help him in coming to terms with the feelings that he'd suppressed for so long, friends that would 'lead him into the light'.

  Soon enough, Neil realised where he needed to be and more importantly, who he needed to be with. Neil made his first important decision : To 'come out' to his parents.

  Neil's parents weren't stupid.They'd spent months watching their son dissapear into the Big City every weekend, often not returning until work was due to start again on Monday morning.They'd also spent months fielding phone calls to the family home from young men inquiring as to Neil's whereabouts so despite Neil's angst at the thought of telling his parents, he really didn't have anything to worry about. In fact, it was all a bit of an anti climax with just a "We already knew" response followed by a "We still love you, you're still our son". Yes, they did have issues and concerns but only because they loved their son so much and didn't want t see him come to harm. Neil was entering into a world and lifestyle that they knew nothing about. Not only that but the legal age of consent at that time was 21 and Neil was only 19. The illegality was a big issue for Neil's parents, even to the point of threatening to ring the police after Neil's involvement with one particular guy (who was in his late 20's) as they'd feared he had abused their son. (He hadn't as it was mutual consent and, despite being a total shit to Neil after the 'fling' Neil had had a ball with the gentleman in question and is rather chuffed that the individual concerned was a rather well known American photographer who, it later transpired, was a f**k buddy to one of the most famous male singers in the world (but I'm not one to gossip so i'm just going to go and sit in a Different Corner. Sometimes. all u gotta' have is have Faith!...)

  Neil's parents continued to put a brave face on the situation and be as supportive as they could but Neil realised that it was time to make another important decision... Neil was to move out and get a place in London......

Two days prior to moving into his swish new London pad (in Bayswater), Neil parted company with his 'then' boyfriend, Cameron. Cameron was a hunky Australian and Neil was very upset at being dumped. However, after Neil's first night of living in London, Neil had a new object of desire, Mark, and had all but forgotten about Cameron.

  This  behaviour was just the start : Neil was your archetypal 'kid in a candystore' and he wasn't gonna' leave that store until he'd tasted every gobstopper, sherbert dip and penny chew that was on offer. (In fact, it was three insane years before Neil left that candy store, feeling somewhat full and rather sick).

  1994 and with the candy store nothing but a glimmer in his dim and murky past, Neil found himself in an emotional wilderness and on the brink of self destruction.

  The previous year, Neil had foolishly agreed  to move in with a guy he was seeing but it was a move of convenience for Neil and the relationship was not good, the arguments and smashing of ornaments being a regular occurence. By early '94 Neil  decided that the relationship had to end but, instead of moving out, gave in to the pleading of his ex and continued to live under the same roof as him. This, of course, gave the ex false hopes that the pair could rekindle their relationship.

  During this time, Neil was trying to come to terms with losing the one relationship that he did want - Neil's lover had recently moved to Moscow and despite inviting Neil out at the first opportunity, the pair had to face facts on Neil's return that the relationship wasn't going to work anymore. The pain this caused Neil was immense. (This is a novel in it's own right so maybe another time!).

  The first six months of 1994 were about to get alot worse for Neil as he lost two very special people in his life. One to heart disease, the other to AIDS. This was the first time that AIDS had been made a reality for Neil and he didn't handle it too well.

  By June of '94 Neil was left feeling crushed and totally alone.... but then.....

Saturday, 23rd July. A hot sticky night in 'Pigeons' Nightclub, Stratford and Neil's life was to begin a new....

  A friend of Neil's, Daniel (another Australian), had just moved into the area and, determined to cheer Neil up, dragged the unwillingly misery along to the earest  dive. Not content with getting him out for the evening, Daniel was then determined to set Neil up with a man for the night.

  Neil wasn't really in the mood to play ball but Daniel was relentless and so Neil gave in.

  A guy had caught Neil's eye earlier in the evening - the only guy who looked as miserable and moody as Neil but there was something about him. Neil told Daniel. Daniel went straight over to Mr Moody, then to the bar, then back to Mr Moody with a drink for him and then back to Neil's table : "His name 's Rob - he'll be right over!". Neil was acutely embarassed and when this guy, Rob, did come over to Neil's table, Neil's walls went up and he gave Rob such a hard time.

  However, as the evening progressed, Neil's walls started to crumble and Neil & Rob ended the night back at Daniel's place. The pair talked into the early hours of Sunday, finding that they had so many common interests.

  Interests that, 17 years later, they are still sharing.

  It so nearly didn't happen - Neil only gave into Daniel's request to go out for the evening at the eleventh hour and it also transpired that Rob, too, was an unwilling chaperone to his friend, Gavin, and really didn't want to be there but The Fates deemed otherwise - it was to be and neither of the pair have looked back since.

In December 2006, Civil Partnership between same sex couples  became legally recognized in The UK. It was something that Rob and Neil had previously discussed and so, initially for practical reasons,  the pair began to talk 'weddings'. Nothing fancy, just a couple of witnesses and a few close friends but the more that the pair got thinking and the more that their friends put on the pressure it was no longer about signing a contract to cover their asses legally but instead, it was all about celebrating the 12 wonderful years that they had shared together so far, wanting to shout it from the rooftops, tell the whole world!

So, on July 22nd, 2006,  a day prior to the couple's 12th Anniversary, at Barking registry office, to an incredible turn-out of friends and family that humbled both of them, Rob and Neil officially became husband and, err, husband.

With Rob by his side and such wonderful friends and family support, Neil doesn't believe his life can get any better. Being a Taurean, Neil is seldom wrong!