I've been married to my Iranian wife for 40 years, now I've written a book about our love story
A St Annes man has written a true story of how he fell in love with a young Iranian woman.
Robert Dunn met Sedigheh Salahi by chance in the town’s Ashton Gardens in the summer of 1984 and they have now been married for 40 years.
He hopes the book, entitled Love Changes A Man, will prove a compelling read - and that it will help boost the coffers of Trinity Hospice, as he is dedicating all the proceeds to the Bispham-based charity.
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The book, available at book shops in Lytham and St Annes as well as via Amazon, relates the often humorous anecdotes amongst the seriousness of overcoming cultural obstacles.
For instance, Robert had to marry Sedigheh at two separate ceremonies and visit his bride’s family, just after a revolution, during the Iran-Iraq war.
To win her hand, Robert traded his Catholic roots for the Shia faith and had to navigate a maze of obstacles.
“The book covers nearly the first two years from when we met,” said Robert . “We will have been married 41 years this September and I have been privileged to visit the many historical sights in Iran during this time with my Iranian family.
“As far as the current war over there is concerned, Sedi, like all Iranians outside Iran, is understandably worried for their families back home.
“She is also scared for an undesirable outcome should the existing regime manage to survive. Who can foresee what a future Iran would look like.? It's all very stressful and worrying.”
The couple have a daughter, Soraya, 36, who is currently working in the USA as a neuro-scientist.
Robert, an engineer by trade, says the book has been almost 40 years in the gestation, explaining: ”My parents would not travel to Iran in the midst of the Iran-Iraq war, so I made a diary in detail and related our activities and encounters on our return.
“My family and friends enjoyed our recollections and anecdotes in the weeks after we came home, and many said I should write a book.
“I started and managed 1,000 or so words before life took over and it wasn't until COVID that I sat down determined to finish it.
“Fortunately, my diary had a better memory than I did, and I was able to finally complete it last year.
“Trinity Hospice is a great cause for the proceeds to go and I hope people enjoy reading it.”