Husband and wife dubbed 'Britain's first same-sex couple' celebrate anniversary
A husband and wife dubbed Britain's first same-sex couple after a glitch on a birth certificate have celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary by going back to the registry office.
Malcolm and Sharon Cain, from Wednesbury, tied the knot in January 1989 at Sandwell Register Office in West Bromwich. However, a mistake on Sharon's birth certificate listed her as male, meaning they technically became Britain's first same-sex married couple, despite it not becoming legal until this year.
Sandwell Council has helped the pair mark their 25th wedding anniversary, with a complimentary marriage renewal ceremony for the couple, their family and friends at the same register office – with the same superintendent registrar.
Mrs Cain had been registered at birth as a boy in 1958, but it wasn't until 2010 when they needed copies of their birth and marriage certificates that the couple discovered the mistake.
She said: "When we discovered the error we had to laugh. I even had to go to my GP, who almost fell off his chair, when I asked him to write to the Registrar General as part of official evidence they needed in order for the certificate to be modified. When we hit the headlines about it earlier this year we told Councillor Darren Cooper, who offered us a complimentary renewal service at West Bromwich Register Office where we were married 25 years ago.
"It was a lovely gesture and it was wonderful to go back and say our vows again."
After the official ceremony 57-year-old Malcolm, a self-employed carpet fitter, and Sharon, who has just notched up 40 years' service at TR Fastenings, treated more than 100 guests to a party at Wednesbury Rugby Club.
Council Leader Councillor Cooper said: "We were delighted when the couple took up our offer to renew their vows at West Bromwich Register Office and it was even more special because our superintendent registrar Paul Sheldon, who married them on January 7 1989, carried out the renewal."
Superintendent registrar Mr Sheldon added: "It was marvellous to oversee the celebration ceremony a quarter of a century after marrying them. They really are a unique couple and we were delighted to invite Malcolm and Sharon back for the ceremony, which they booked specially on a date that I was available to carry it out."
