FROM the pits of despair David Bookbinder is once again learning that life is, after all, worth living.
And for that he thanks his new bride Wang Yi, who describes her husband as a man with "a golden mind".
David credits Yi with bringing him back from the brink of suicide.
He says he fell for her when he discovered she had been praying for him because she understood his devastation at losing his first wife, Mary, to cancer. Yi had also been praying for his son, John, who was fighting cancer at the time.
fake rolexThe couple originally met in 2001 when a 60th birthday party was thrown for David in China.
Later his life, which had been torn apart when Mary died, was again struck by tragedy when John, a former Manchester City footballer, died of cancer.
David, who led Derbyshire County Council for nine years from 1982, said: "Yi considers herself to be a Christian/ Buddhist and knew I was a devout atheist. Yet I found out through a third party that she had been regularly praying for John and me.
"I was touched, not just because she was doing it, but because the only reason I found out was because of a third party. I was amazed by it."
They pair became even closer when David was himself diagnosed with cancer in 2008 - a time when he was under mounting pressure from business problems.
David said he went through a stage of feeling at rock bottom during that period - but then Yi stepped in to save his life.
"By Christmas 2008 I had reached the lowest point in my life and if it wasn't for Yi this interview wouldn't be taking place," he said.
"I could see nothing but a big, black fog with no ending in front of me.
"I had the pills and suicide was on the agenda.
"She helped me with the belief she had in me - it was very reassuring."
After the couple first met, they worked together when Yi acted as a link between David's Derby First investment firm and his non- English-speaking Chinese contacts. At the same time he helped Yi cope with her own work-related and family problems in Beijing, including her grandmother's struggle with cancer.
David said he was stunned when, early last year, Yi asked him to marry her.
He said: "I wouldn't have dared ask her to marry me.
"I tried to talk her out of it. My advice to her was, 'forget me because I don't think I'm a good deal'.
"Marrying me means she has to leave her family and friends in China because there's no chance I could live in China.
"They already have a onechild policy so they won't let someone like me stay there permanently and I don't speak the language anyway. Yi is still young and has no children. It's not on the agenda with us; she will share my grandchildren.
"Then there is the age gap which is only an issue if you make it one - anyway, I feel 35."
Though David still feels youthful, he has had multiple health problems.
Lace wigsAs well as having twice recovered from cancer, he suffers from advanced diabetes and heart problems.
He said: "I was told nine years ago not to expect to live more than another nine years, and that was before I had cancer.Other articles:
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