Ex-Ashes star Chris Broad tells how he met his new love just four weeks after his wife's death on a date she help set up
Lost love: Chris Broad with Miche a few months before she died
Chris Broad had no intention of falling in love so soon after the death of his belovBut he had underestimated the meticulousorganising skills that Miche, as she was known, would call on even as she suffered her agonising decline.
Unable to eat or talk and determinednot to end up a blob, as she put it, Miche began to plan her death and left nothing to chance. ed wife, Michelle, which came just a year after she was struck down by motor neurone disease.
But he had underestimated the meticulous organising skills that Miche, as she was known, would call on even as she suffered her agonising decline. Unable to eat or talk and determined not to end up a blob, as she put it, Miche began to plan her death and left nothing to chance.
She thought of everything, from choosing the date of her funeral so that it would fit with the schedule of her stepson Stuart, a leading member of the England cricket team, to ensuring that the bird-feeders in the garden had been filled.
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But most remarkable of all, Miche asked close female friends to set about finding Chris a new love, a plan which, as he can now reveal, has proved yet another success for his late wife.
She knew I wasnt someone who liked to be on my own, he says, and she wanted me to move on and be happy. But she didnt tell me what she had in mind.
Team Broad: Chris with his children, England star Stuart and one-day team analyst Emma
Miche would no doubt have been delighted, if not a little surprised, that her wish was granted with such speed.
Four weeks after her death and shortly after her funeral, an unsuspecting Chris had travelled from his home in Nottingham to London, where he was visiting a long-time friend, Mandy Shepherd.
He explains: Mandy and I have known each other for more than 20 years, and Mandy became close to Miche too. I went to her flat for a drink and Rosemarie, one of Mandys friends, was there. Mandy explained that they usually met up on a Wednesday and hoped I didnt mind.
Stuart, in true bloke fashion, was much more accepting of the situation than Gemma. She disapproved on principleof me starting another relationship so soon and asked how I could move from one person to another so quickly. She is better with it now.
Chris Broad
Initially I didnt think anything of it. Rosemarie and I got on very well from the start. We all had a couple of drinks and then went to a local pub for something to eat.
As I was leaving, I told Mandy that if the timing had been different I would think it was a set-up, but that it obviously wasnt as Miches funeral had only just taken place.
To my astonishment, Mandy revealed Miches plan and said she asked her to make a good match because she wanted me settled again as soon as possible.
Chris, 53, insists t! hathe ha d absolutely no thoughts of looking for a girlfriend at the time.
I was missing Miche hugely, he says. In addition, Stuart was busy playing cricket and I had immersed myself in that.
Having met Rosemarie, Chris found himself in a dilemma, with his heart telling him one thing and his sense of what was appropriate something quite different.
Shared passion: Chris' son Stuart in action for England
Now he finds himself trying to do his best for everyone he loves. I dont believe in staying stuck in a situation, like being a bereaved widower, merely because it may be the conventional thing to do, he says. Its a case of trying to get the balance right.
It is partly why he has kept his relationship secret until now.
A year after Miches death, he feels comfortable admitting that he and Rosemarie are an item, but does not want to reveal her full name and declines to have a photograph taken of them together.
We both feel it still doesnt feel right, he says. Some people think there ought to be at least a six-month gap between one relationship ending, especially due to death, and another starting.
Referee: Chris Broad at cricket press conference -he said he kept the news of his new love quiet because of others sensitivities
I dont believe that, partly because I did so much of my grieving while Miche was alive, but I am aware of others sensitivities and held the news back.
I told Stuart and [his daughter] Gemma that I had met someone fairly early on, but it was a while before they actually met Rosemarie.
Stuart, in true bloke fashion, wa! s much m ore accepting of the situation than Gemma. She disapproved on principle of me starting another relationship so soon and asked how I could move from one person to another so quickly. She is better with it now.
Accepting: Stuart Broad accepted his father's news better than his sister
It was also the second time that his children had to face a relationship upheaval. Chris had been divorced from Carole, their mother, before he met fellow divorcee Miche at a golf tournament in 2000.
They were together for ten years and married for eight.
Miche died, aged 60, the day after taking an overdose, on July 6, 2010. At her inquest, the coroner revealed that she had taken a fatal combination of the drugs Diazepam and Tramadol.
Chris was out playing golf when she took it. He says: I had known over the previous few months that it was a possibility and so it was easier for me to deal with than perhaps others who hadnt seen her for a while.
Charity: After Miches death the family launched The Broad Appeal to raise awareness of motor neurone disease
Stuart, 25, is Englands leading all-rounder, while 27-year-old Gemma works as a performance analyst for Englands one-day team. Chris, himself a former Test batsman and a star of the 1986-87 Ashes series, is now a leading match referee.
After Miches death, the three of them launched The Broad Appeal to raise awareness of motor neurone disease.
Chriss relationship with Rosemarie, 48, who works in administration for a Central London wealth management company and is divorced with sons aged 24 and 21, started gently.
She stayed in London while Chris remained in Nottingham. He adds: I also travel the world a lot refereeing cricket matches. The distance meant we didnt get too clo! se too q uickly.
Instead we chatted regularly over the telephone and got to know each other gradually. She is tall, blonde and great fun to be with, but unlike Miche is not sporty.
Rosemarie didnt like cricket when we met, but Im working on it.
She has watched the occasional match and it was great that she could see Stuart during the latest Test match. I am, of course, very proud of Stuart.
'Being a key member of the top cricket team in the world is great for him and England. We have so many interests in common and are very close.
He has often told me that he will get married at 30, and I always ask how he knows he is going to meet the right person at that time.
You never know what is round the corner in any aspect of life. You cannot control when you might meet someone you care about. When you feel something is right you should go for it.
As for their future, Chris and Rosemarie are content not to force the new relationship, but look forward to being together.
I shall be travelling a lot as a referee over autumn and winter, Chris says. But Rosemarie will be joining me for Christmas abroad. When I am back we shall see as much of each other as possible.
* www.thebroadappeal.com
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