‘I hated Father’s Day but now I can celebrate’

For the last 32 years, Nick Marrable has regarded Father’s Day as “the worst day of the year”.

When he was five years old, his father died of a brain tumour.

But this year, the 37-year-old, who lives in Loughton in Essex, is celebrating it for the first time after his son Freddie was born last June.

“All I have ever wanted is to be a father so this has been like my dream coming true,” he said.

“I’ve spent my whole life not wanting to know about Father’s Day but now I can finally celebrate,” he said.

Freddie, who is nearly one, was born on the day after Father’s Day last year.

Mr Marrable, who runs a marketing firm, plans to spend the day at home with his son before watching the England game with him in the evening.

He and his wife Amy had been trying to conceive for more than two years before undergoing hospital tests and being referred for NHS-funded IVF treatment at Bourn Hall Clinic in Wickford.

“I remember sitting in the pub with five of my mates one evening just after Amy had the embryo transfer and we were in that horrible 10-day window of waiting to see if she was pregnant,” he said.

“My mates were all talking about their children and it triggered something in me and I broke down, which isn’t like me at all. It all suddenly got on top of me. I then went home and had another cry.

“Our infertility was ‘unexplained’ and the tests hadn’t found any issues with either of us, but I still felt like it was my fault and that I wasn’t being a provider by giving Amy a child.

“It was really difficult.”

Mr Marrable gave up smoking and lost two stone in weight to maximise their chances.

When he found out his wife was expecting he felt “overjoyed” but was reluctant to get too excited.

“My mentality unfortunately is that I tend to think the worst so that I don’t get too hurt if things don’t go to plan but luckily they did and we are so blessed,” he added.

The couple recently found out they have conceived another baby naturally, due at the end of the year.

“We can’t believe it and are just so happy. Freddie is just the best, he has made my life. To be having another baby has just made everything complete.”