For years he supressed his feelings and even underwent aversion therapy in a desperate attempt to conform to the lifestyle he believed would be more acceptable than the truth.

But after meeting the love of his life in the year 2000, Nick and his partner Phil became the first same-gender couple in Renfrewshire to celebrate their relationship with a public ceremony which gave them a Civil Partnership.

Now, nine years on from their belated ceremony on December 23, 2005, it takes us to the marriage that they will inaugurate next week.

December 16 is the first date when people who have a Civil Partnership can have their relationship recognised as a marriage in the eyes of the law and the country.

Finally Nick and Philip can look forward to celebrating a proper marriage and settle down at their home in Erskine.

Nick, 68, said: “I love Phil more than I ever thought was possible and more than anyone else I have ever known. I am deeply grateful for the love that we share.” “I ‘came out’ to my mother in my early 20s. She has always been great. Phil only came out to his family when he was in his late 40s after we had started making plans to get together. His family didn’t seem to have any problems.

“My hope is that as society gets used to all the variety of people there are, each with their own lifestyles, that ‘coming out’ will be increasingly not needed as each individual is embraced with acceptance and love.” The couple came together some 15 years ago, in the year 2000. Nick moved from Manchester to Erskine to join Phil at his home. In 2003 they arranged a ceremony, at home, with family and friends, where they made promises to each other about their lives together.

Being recognised as “married” is an important step for them as their relationship is now equal to any other couples who choose to marry.

Nick said that in their lifetimes being homosexual has gone from a mental condition to even being classed as illegal in Britain. But much to their relief, it has now gone from not only being a lawful way of life, but one which is recognised, with the status of marriage, as being equal to all other people who would call themselves heterosexual.

“Our marriage is a celebration of the equality we have now which, over the years, has helped change our lives as it developed,” Nick said.

The recognition of the marriage is now a ‘paper exercise’ at Renfrewshire Registrar’s Office and will be completed with the same registrar who recognised and recorded their Civil Partnership.

After this they will put on their wedding rings that were made from the rings they exchanged at the Civil Partnership.

The following day they have booked a photographer and his studio for family photographs that may include their two beloved dogs — Sam and Dan.

The couple say the whole event will become a “family celebration,” early in the new year — with an open house party that will include a renewal of their vows and a wedding cake that is being baked by a friend.

Philip Duffy, 61, also a retired teacher, said: “My life with Nick, as part of a couple, has brought me more happiness than I ever thought could happen. We share love, happiness, peace and an exciting life together.” Nick, who is now qualified as a counsellor which he continues to do in a voluntary capacity at Crisis in Erskine, added: “As two men we have a beautiful, committed, relationship, which is very loving and stable. We have overcome the unconscious brainwashing to which we were subject, as children, and adults, where the expectation was that we would be happily married men, with wife and children.

“Well, now we are going to be happily married men.”