James Bulger’s mother has renewed her wedding vows 30 years on from her son’s brutal murder.
Denise Fergus has just celebrated her 25th wedding anniversary with husband Stuart by renewing their vows in the same church they got married in.
But for Denise, it’s about more than renewing her vows as she reaches a new level of acceptance abou what she and her family have gone through.
Denise fought for justice for her son James Bulger whp was led away from her in a busy shopping centre and murdered by two 10-year-old boys in 1993.
Speaking to OK!, she said: “I feel the happiest I have been for some time and that’s been the case for a while. I am living the life I should have lived all those years ago when I was young; a life that was taken away from me. There are so many more positives now, with our three sons and granddaughter; we can sit back and watch them live their lives; get married, have kids. It’s their turn now. Life is an enormous learning curve but here we are – just Denise and Stuart. Renewing our vows was a way of marking that.”
As well as being surrounded by a large, loving family, Denise’s new-found sense of peace has also come from writing her recently updated autobiography I Let Him Go.
James was just a few weeks short of his third birthday when he was snatched from her in a shopping centre by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson.
In her book, she admitted that some memories – James’ laugh, his love of chocolate, his smell – had faded and the story of his short life had become overshadowed by that of his murderers and a court case that dominated world headlines.
She still strongly believes the justice system did not treat her son’s killers as the murderers they were because of their age. But remembering James in a concentrated way for the book helped her reconnect with her boy and find some kind of peace.
And, as her silver wedding anniversary came into view, she knew the time was right to celebrate 25 years of being married to the man she adores and who is “always at her side”.
“Things just clicked into place; the time was right for me emotionally,” says Denise who has spoken in the book about some of her darkest days – days in which she thought she might not survive her overwhelming grief. “The years have gone in a flash but so much has happened and we’ve been through so much together.
“At the time we met I told Stuart that if he took me on he would take a lot of other stuff on as well. I told him he had an opportunity to walk away from that; from me. But he didn’t. I don’t think I would have been able to do what I have on my own. He’s the one that keeps me together.”
Stuart steers the James Bulger Memorial Trust, set up in memory of James to support young people who are disadvantaged due to a bereavement or a victim of crime, hatred or bullying – as well as to reward those who have made a positive impact on others or society in general.
“I had eight bridesmaids and they all came to the house to get ready. We’d got them matching PJs and slippers with ‘team bride’ on. It was chaos but I wanted them all here with me and it was great fun.” But what about Stuart – was he nervous on the day? “I knew she’d turn up – I had the house keys for a start!” he grins.
“If you look back at the original wedding photos you can see we’re smiling but in the new ones you can see the smiles are huge; there was so much more laughter.” Afterwards, there was food, speeches – and that dancing – as around 90 family and friends helped them celebrate, with the party finally wrapping up at 2am.
Other poignant moments during the day included putting wisps of thistle in the flower, in remembrance of Stuart’s Scottish dad, while in church the couple lit a candle to “remember loved ones no longer here”.
Before setting off for the church the bridesmaids also gathered to take photos in front of a picture of James.
