SWINDON’S Melinda  Messenger has spoken out about the end of her 14-year marriage and readjusting to life as a single mum.


The TV presenter and former glamour model, who grew up in the town but now lives near Reading, split from husband Wayne Roberts in November.


The couple have three children – Morgan, 12, Flynn, 10 and Evie, eight.
Melinda said: “I feel I’ve had three lifetimes’ worth of experiences already, and they’ve all enriched me, although some of them have been tough.
“But I’m a fighter and I never give up.
“You have these ideas that relationships should last forever and in an ideal world, wouldn’t that be lovely? But the reality is that they last for as long as they’re meant to last.
“Wayne and I had 18 years together and I think we were very lucky to have that.
“Our break-up was more about growing apart than anything else. Now we have a really good friendship, he’s totally supportive and involved with the children and it’s working fine.”


Melinda, who returned to Swindon in 2011 to open the £1.6m redevelopment of the Breast Centre at the GWH, has battled depression during her career but is now focusing on how she can help others with similar problems and is currently training to be a psychotherapist.
“I had post-natal depression after having Flynn and then suffered with it much more severely after Evie,” said the 41-year-old.


“Like most people, I'd always suffered from low moods on occasion but they took a turn for the worse after that.
“There's often a misconception that if you have a fantastic job, then you have no reason to be depressed.
“Often, however, the more successful someone is, the more prone they are to depression, with increased pressure and expectations placed upon them, and usually less time to themselves.


“Over the years, I've been to the darkest places of my soul, but thankfully that's behind me now.
"Personally, I've never wanted to take anti-depressants because I think they can end up being nothing more than a sticking plaster which can only numb the issue rather than solve it.
“My depression was like a beautiful gift inside a thorny box. Getting into the box tore me to shreds but inside was a gift that I would never give up - it helped me to find me and discover what is real and what isn't.


“I feel very frustrated when people are made to feel somehow less than everyone else if they suffer mental illness.
“I think there are amazing opportunities for growth and transformation during those processes, even though at the time they can be extremely painful and difficult.
“My experiences have certainly helped me relate and feel empathy with those who are suffering difficulties.
“I feel blessed that I can look forward to my life constantly changing, new opportunities, and guiding my kids into adulthood.”