It’s not quite clear when they met. History holds that they met as children. According to their records, they met as young adults. He was in Cape Town on holiday from his banking job in Northern Rhodesia and she was working in the Reserve Bank. It was love at first – or second – sight.
He swept her off her sporty feet and asked for her hand in marriage. She accepted gladly and agreed to travel with him wherever his work would take him. He was soon transferred to Hermanus, not far from Cape Town, and it was there that they started their married life.
Through years of travel through South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia (southern and northern Rhodesia of those days), they bore four offspring. Two boys followed by two girls. Months of separation from their children as they went to boarding school was the price they paid for the expat adventure.
When their children were small they embarked on an overseas adventure. They flew, with children ranging in age from six to 13, from Zambia to the United Kingdom. For three months they explored London, travelled on a boat up the Thames, spent six weeks in a motorised caravan travelling around England, Scotland and Wales, and then travelled by ship from Southampton to Cape Town. There they picked up a car for a friend and travelled up to Zambia. Brave, intrepid travellers they were, and their adventures and travels continued through their retirement in Cape Town.
Her gentle yet firm manner has always been balanced by his strong command of the family. Their lives centred around sport as they travelled here and there – she excelled in tennis before taking up golf, and in their retirement they enjoyed playing bowls together. They now watch sport together and, I reckon, could give some commentators a run for their money.
A kind, loving and precious mom to her brood and granny to her grandchildren. A funny, loving and protecting dad and grampa whose wonderful storytelling will live on through the generations.
Kindred spirits. Best friends. Parents in a million.
Happy Anniversary, my precious Mom and Dad. I am so proud of your 57 years and counting. May God bless you always.
Sunshine signing off today.
Sunshine in London 
Such a wonderful tribute!
Thanks, Glen. A wonderful mom and dad! xx
Beautiful love story! Just what I needed to read first thing this morning. Thank you for sharing your parents story. Happy Anniversary to them!
xo
patty
Thank you, Patty. xx
Wow, 57 years – congrats to your folks!
You seem to have inherited from your parents your sense of adventure and love of life.
Thanks, Lisa. Perhaps you’re right! xx
What a wonderful story! Happy Anniversary to them from here in Haiti!
Thank you, Kathryn! I’ll pass your wishes on to them.
What a beautiful story…Happy Anniversary Sunshine Mum and Dad!
I can see where you got your love of travel!
Hugs,
Wendy
Thank you, Wendy – I’ll pass the wishes from my almost-twin on to them! xx
57 years, what a good run!
*wipes away tears*
Amazing, hey? Thank you, Cindy xx
A great tribute post.
Wow, as cindy said 57 years IS a good run
Thank you. 57 years is awesome …
Ah, Sunshine. That’s lovely. What a fine tribute to what sounds like a truly remarkable couple. 57 years is really something to celebrate. You really just don’t hear about that kind of longevity these days!
Congrats to your mom and dad, and to you for such a well-written piece. (But that’s nothing new!)
Thank you so much, Maura. It’s an awesome celebration and something I’d love to equal, in about 30 years’ time! xx
You have summed them up soooo well! What a solid couple and inspiration to us all! I had forgotten that they share their anniversary with another special person… my Mum, who is 84 today. What wonderful people their era produced, and we’re the lucky ones to have been shaped by them. Lotsa love to T& P and wish them well.
Thanks, Fi – I’ll pass on your wishes to them. It was their anniversary yesterday, so the celebrations are a day apart. Please wish your Mum happy birthday from me. Can’t believe it’s four years since we shared her 80th birthday with her xx
What a wonderful romantic story and tribute to your Mum and Dad. Such an awesome legacy of committment. Truly a blessed gift for your entire family.
Thank you so much, Jeanne. They, and their dedication to each other, are such a gift to our family, indeed xx
Wow, they don’t make many marriages like that anymore. It’s not just that they’ve stayed together…they play together, too. Love your writing.
Thanks, Teri. Yes, that’s a special relationship, for sure.