Still picking up the pieces

Singer Paloma Faith with Kiwi chef Rian Haynes.

A troubled Kiwi chef is nursing a broken heart after a whirlwind marriage and divorce with flamboyant British pop star and actress Paloma Faith.

Rian Haynes, 36, from Timaru, tied the knot eight years ago with the chart-topping singer, who recently declared: "I don't ever want to get married. I don't believe in it. It's rubbish."

Then-unknown Faith married Haynes in July 2005 at Hackney Town Hall in East London.

She filed for divorce four years later, just after the release of her debut hit single Stone Cold Sober.

Haynes is back in New Zealand and until recently had been working at Fusion Cafe in the Ponsonby.

His musician brother Ronny Haynes told the Herald on Sunday Rian is recuperating from issues with alcohol, and was too focused on his recovery to speak about his brief marriage.

"Rian is a bit bemused by all the sudden attention and he has struggled to get over the breakup with Paloma," Ronny said. "He was heartbroken when she left him after just eight months."

Drum teacher Ronny said Rian met Faith when he was working in a secondhand clothes store in London in 2004.

"Paloma loves cool clothes too and they hit it off when she started coming into the shop.
"She was unknown at the time and the attraction between them was instant. "

The couple wed within a year and the reception was held at Bethnal Green Working Men's Club. Rian's parents travelled from Timaru to attend the colourful affair.

"Our family thought they were the perfect couple and would be together for a very long time."

The couple lived in a modest terraced house in Hackney but the marriage ended when Faith suddenly upped and left, Ronny said.

After the couple divorced, Faith went on to find fame and fortune with a string of international hits including Picking Up The Pieces and Never Tear Us Apart. She is now believed to be dating handsome musician Leyman, a member of her backing band.

Ronny concluded: "When they split, it hit Rian hard. It was all downhill from there and he got a bit wild. But I know he is still in touch with Paloma from time to time and they are still on friendly terms."