It’s not often that life offers second chances but when you get it, you better take it.
In the case of Damian and Amanda Robinson, from Warrington, Cheshire, that involved tying the knot again after they had divorced on the week of their 10th anniversary and they say things have never been better.
The pair first met as co-workers in a local supermarket in August 1992. Amanda was 21 at the time while Damian was 24.
Watch the video to find out more of their story below.
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Video credit: Rumble
They quickly fell in love and became a couple within weeks of the first meeting and Damian proposed just a few months later before getting married in April 1994.
However, financial issues plagued their relationship along with infidelity. The couple divorced in April 2004, just one week before what was supposed to be their 10th anniversary.
Damian and Amanda moved on to other relationships following the divorce but rekindled love just five years later, in 2009, after Damian helped take care of their two daughters after William, Amanda’s child from a new relationship, was in the hospital.
They got back together since then and incredibly tied the knot a second time in 2017 in front of their families. They also insist that the way things happened has made their relationship stronger than ever.
Damian, a construction worker and now 49, said: “When we got married it was good at first, but after we’d had Abigail and Charlotte and Amanda had health issues everything started to go wrong.
“She could no longer work and earn money – it was really tough because we were still so young and were financially struggling.
“We both separated once we had met other people.
“I never really got over the divorce but it woke me up a lot and helped me move on.
“We shared custody of both of our children and did our best to get through it and carry on with our lives.”
Amanda, a sales assistant and now 47, said: “We were in a constant battle with health and money problems for around 10 years so it’s no surprise that things went that way.
“I was on painkillers for my back and had to have major surgery, which left me unable to work and it was tough.
“We were both struggling and miserable – Damian had an affair and moved out for a while but came back because he missed our daughters too much.
“We decided to move house to try and restart but I met someone else and we then separated.
“I initiated the divorce because I was getting to 30 years old and felt that it was my opportunity to find happiness and make a change.”
The two hadn’t spoken in the five years since their divorce and their only interaction was to co-parent their daughters Abigail and Charlotte. When Amanda split up with her new partner, she warned the girls that they shouldn’t even bother thinking that it was a chance to get her back with Damian.
As fate would have it, two weeks later, Amanda’s son William, who was two at the time, fell ill and was in the hospital. Damian offered to take care of their two girls so that Amanda could be at the hospital.
When Damian went to Warrington Hospital to visit Amanda and William, a simple hand hold rekindled their love. As simple as that, they were a couple again.
Damian said: “We were walking down the hospital hall and I squeezed her hand – she squeezed mine back and it all went from there.
“Friends and family advised caution because if anything went wrong again they didn’t want our children to be upset.
“Our parents were happy and noticed that Amanda and I had both changed as people and our children were over the moon to have both parents living in the same house again.
“We’re far more patient and appreciative of each other now and realize our faults and when we need space – we’ve definitely matured.
“It seems a shame that we went through what we did but when we look back at it we realize it wasn’t a waste of time and that we wouldn’t be where we are now if it didn’t happen that way.”
After moving back in with Amanda in 2009, Damian popped the question to Amanda for the second time around on Christmas Day 2015.
They were both apprehensive at first about telling their friends and family that they were together again but they got a lot of support.
The pair remarried on August 12, 2017, at Prescott Registry Office. Just like their first wedding. They had a simple reception back home where they celebrated their reunion among friends and family.
Amanda added: “Damian has been an amazing dad to all three children and to have our family back together has been great.
“We’ve not really gone over old ground but we’re now older, stronger, wiser and more honest and open – we rarely argue now!
“My back problems are still a major thing within our relationship but he understands it all better now.
“It’s been a roller coaster for 27 years and I look back and can’t believe we got through it – a lot of people go through the same struggles as us with money and health problems and I never thought I’d marry him again.
“I love him to bits and it’s obvious that it was meant to be.”
Amanda is now finishing a degree in environmental studies. After that is done, they want to move to the Hebrides in Scotland where they spent their second honeymoon in August 2017.
Amanda added: “We didn’t get the chance to have a honeymoon after our first marriage so it was amazing to finally have one together after around 27 years.
“Love isn’t easy at times but you’ve got to have faith and trust – if you don’t have those then things can go wrong but above everything we’ve learned that we need to be honest and open with each other.”
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