GARY Speed’s widow has married her millionaire businessman boyfriend a decade after the footy ace took his own life.
Louise, 51, tied the knot with her property developer partner Quinton Bird, 52, at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire last week after he helped her through the grieving process and loneliness following Speed’s death.
4
4
The mum-of-two was left heartbroken after Welsh football star Speed took his own life on November 27, 2011, aged just 42.
He was manager of Wales at the time following a playing career that spanned 677 games for Leeds, Everton, Newcastle, Bolton and Sheffield United.
Louise and millionaire Bird have been business partners for six years – the only directors of building company Bow Property Development based in Chester.
The pair found love together after Louise found it difficult to get off the sofa for two years following Speed’s passing as she struggled to cope with so many unanswered questions.
Louise wed divorced dad-of-three Bird in a lavish ceremony with guests including football legend Alan Shearer last week on December 16, reports the Mail.
She wore a stunning white lace dress with the ceremony held in a room adorned with white hydrangeas and roses.
It comes after Louise opened up about Speed’s death, admitting the month of November is always a difficult one to get through.
Initially she felt anger towards him, and often doubts whether she can forgive Gary for taking his own life – describing the tragedy as the ‘worst nightmare possible’.
Louise told the Daily Mail: “Have I forgiven Gary? I ask myself this often. Can I? Have I? Will I?
“I don’t know. I have witnessed the hurt he has caused to his family and friends, particularly his boys and his mum and dad and myself.
“The void he has left within us all. So I don’t know. I just don’t know if I have forgiven him yet or not. But of course I want to.
“The anger has only just subsided and that is part of it. I was angry with him for a long time but that also kept me strong, if you know what I mean? It’s when I released that anger that I felt a little bit vulnerable.”
SPEED STRUGGLES
Speed and Louise were childhood sweethearts, going on their first date aged 15.
They married during his spell with Leeds before stints at Everton, Newcastle, Bolton and Sheffield United.
He retired with the Blades in 2010 and took over as manager before taking the reins of the Welsh national team.
Speed was still the Wales gaffer when he died aged 42.
Louise found her husband hanged in their garage on a Sunday morning, after appearing on BBC Football Focus and going out to dinner with friends the previous day.
A letter Speed wrote to his then-girlfriend Louise aged 17 expressed how he felt ”so depressed’.
He wrote: “I’m just going to go to sleep now and hope I never wake up.”
4
4
Source: The Sun
