UK's first same sex civil partnerships 20 years on

5 December 2025

Hanna NeterSouth East

News image — Chris Cramp, left, and his partner Matthew Roche were one of the first same-sex couples in the UK to form a civil partnership on 5 December, 2005

Chris Cramp A man in a yellow shirt, sat left, and a man wearing a light coloured shirt, sat right in a wheelchair. The man on the right is holding a black clipboard with a piece of paper on top of it. — Chris Cramp, left, and his partner Matthew Roche were one of the first same-sex couples in the UK to form a civil partnership on 5 December, 2005

"It was officially a civil partnership, but we classed it as our wedding, it meant so much on the day," says Chris Cramp.

Chris, 57, was one half of the first same-sex couple to have a civil partnership in the UK, 20 years ago.

He and his terminally ill partner Matthew Roche were given special permission for the ceremony on the day the legislation came in. Matthew died the next day.

Chris, from Southwick in West Sussex, said: "It just meant so much to him as well, to legally get married."

He added: "Initially I think for anyone losing a partner it is very hard but with time it does get easier.

"You're kind of left with wounds. It does heal but the scar's still there."

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into effect on 5 December 2005, granting same-sex couples legal recognition with rights and responsibilities similar to marriage.

Chris and Matthew held their ceremony at St Barnabas House Hospice in Worthing, West Sussex, just hours after the Civil Partnership Act became law.

Matthew had gallbladder cancer and was being cared for at the hospice.

Chris Cramp A man wearing a grey t-shirt. He is stood in front of a stone wall. — Chris Cramp, now aged 57, says he has a new partner and plans to spend the 20-year anniversary at the cemetery where Matthew is buried

The couple originally met in a nightclub in Brighton in 1994, becoming "really good friends" first before becoming partners.

Chris says he has met a new partner and they plan to get married next year.

Speaking about how he plans to spend the anniversary, he said: "My partner and I, we're planning to go down the cemetery where Matthew has been buried and lay flowers and look at the photos of our wedding.

"My partner Damian is so supportive. He loves hearing about Matthew. Then we'll probably treat ourselves to a takeaway or something in the evening."

On 5 December 2005 the BBC reported three same-sex couples arrived in the early hours of the morning at Brighton Town Hall to be among the first in the UK to register their intention to form civil partnerships.

Debbie and Elaine Gaston, Gino Meriano and Mike Ullett, and Roger Lewis and Keith Willmott-Goodall were waiting when the register office opened and were some of the first to enter civil partnerships in the country on 21 December, after a 15-day waiting period.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.