By Irma Heger TAKE a look at the beautiful bride in these pictures, full of life and loving her special day. But 20 years ago, she was given few chances of living much past her fifth birthday.

Beverley Unwin, nee Bennett, was born with seven holes in her heart. She was the first child to survive the pioneering operation she had to undergo. But, amazingly, the brave little girl pulled through.

Beverley lay in a coma for two weeks but then started a steady recovery.

Comedian Charlie Chester became an "uncle" to her when she was six until his death last year, and Michael Bond, creator of her favourite character Paddington Bear, also struck up a friendship.

Now Beverly is a beautiful 25-year-old business banker who has just married a college computer manager in an idyllic beach ceremony in Jamaica.

"I'm very proud of her, as you can imagine," said her mum Barbara, of Woodstock Drive, Smithills.

When Beverly finished school, she had her sights set on a job in banking but didn't want to go to college. Applying 'on spec', she chose from three job offers and was trained in-house.

"She's a very decisive person," said her mother."I never wrapped her in cotton wool".

Beverley's triumph over her crippling childhood illness and the success she has made of her life has brought immense joy to her mother. But 58-year-old Barbara hides scars from the past beneath her sunny outlook and glamorous looks.

She, Beverly and her other daughter, 26-year-old Bernice (the "three Bs") have known hard times. But together they have come through them all.

In 1987, Barbara discovered a lump in her breast, dying "a thousand deaths" the night she found it.

Treatment at Christies Hospital means she has been in remission for 10 years, but Barbara did lose part of one breast.

Her husband simply went for a walk when he heard of the diagnosis.

"If he can do that when I need him most, he's not much of a man," Barbara thought at the time.

She was wed for 21 years, but the violence had started only four years into the marriage. To outsiders her partner was a "charming man, but at home he flew into violent rages," said Barbara.

"Like a fool I used to take him back, believing he was sorry."

He was eventually legally forced to leave the marital home and on that day Barbara felt that a huge weight had been lifted from her.

The eviction brought the end of the constant tension of living with someone who would turn against her if the "wrong" food was served, or who would lash out for no reason while she was watching TV.

Her ex-husband is now under a life-long restraining order, said Barbara."It was like being in the middle of a whirlpool and not knowing how to get out," is how she described the marriage."I really loved him but you can only try so much for a person."

But there was more bad news to come."After he left I found out he had been having affairs," she said. "He'd make friends and then start carrying on with their wives."

It also took years to pay off the debts her husband had accumulated, said Barbara.

Sadly her marriage failed and she was left deep in debt but, by 1996, everything was paid and a friend advised: "Chuck your knickers in the air and shout 'whoopee'!"

Barbara is now a keen singer, who enjoys karaoke and appearing at charity functions. She also organises charity nights and helps raise thousands of pounds for various good causes, particularly the ones associated wirth cancer care.

"I find that singing helps me release all my feelings and emotions."

Bernice is also a good singer, and Beverly enjoys dancing. "When she gets on the dance floor, she won't get off," said her mum.

Beverley now lives in Cumbria with husband David Unwin. She had her hen night in Bolton, when everyone dressed as St Trinian's girls.

And Barbara has again found romance. "He cares a lot, he's very loving and idolises me," she confided about the man she met three years ago.

"It has made me much more independent. I'm happy now."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.