Inyoni Creek couple celebrates 50th anniversary

Inyoni Creek Retirement Village residents Mr David (81) and Felicity (75) Borland celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on January 15.

The couple also renewed their wedding vows in a ceremony at St Theresa’s Catholic Church in Edenvale on January 16.

The couple met at their friends’ wedding in Pietermaritzburg on February 28, 1965. Mrs Borland was a bridesmaid and Mr Borland the best man.

Three months later, the same friends invited them to spend the weekend with them, hiking in the Magaliesburg.

“I made my decision then, when I saw this young blonde carrying the heaviest pack,” laughed Mr Borland.

“The next day I wrote a letter to my dad and told him I had met the girl I wanted to marry,” he said.

After a trip to Natal to visit her parents, Mrs Borland was conscious of the spiritual connection between her mother and Mr Borland. She knew then that her ‘fate’ was sealed.

She accepted Mr Borland’s proposal on August 15, 1965. The couple was married by Mr Borland’s cousin, Fr Phillip Erasmé, at St Mary’s Church in Pietermaritzburg. After their wedding, Mr Borland, as an engineer, was transferred a number of times and the family moved around the country.

They have three children, David, Mark and Jessica. They spent their teenage years on a six acre plot in Glenferness, where the family experienced the freedom and joy of country life with wild hares, hedgehogs, birds, visiting porcupines, chickens, ducks, horses and snakes. David and Mark were weekly boarders at CBC in Pretoria and Jessica was at Brescia House in Bryanston.

The family then moved to Bryanston, which was constantly filled with young people. Felicity cooked large quantities of food as they never knew how many friends would appear for meals. Mark now lives in Kyalami, while David and his wife Belinda and three children live in Olivedale. Jessica, her husband Jeremy and three children, live in West Sussex, England.

“Our children, six grandchildren and extended family have brought joy and meaning to our lives and we thank God for each and every one of them,” said Mr David.

Mr and Mrs Borland, who now live with their two eight-year-old dogs, moved to Rand Aid Association’s Inyoni Creek in 2009.

“It was a good and timely move. We are blessed to live in such lovely surroundings where we have made new, good and caring friends,” said Mr Borland.

He obtained his BSc Eng at Wits and was awarded a scholarship to attend Birmingham University in the UK, where he obtained a Master’s degree in Highway Engineering. He was one of only a few in South Africa to have this qualification at the time.

Mrs Borland studied teaching at the Natal Training College and taught in KwaZulu-Natal, London and Johannesburg.

“As a family, we have played in, supported and enjoyed many sporting events and occasions. David is a natural sportsman, having excelled at all sports, playing Nuffield Cricket in 1951 and winning a number of district and inter-provincial bowls titles. He became the South African Senior Singles Bowls Champion in 1998. Our children and grandchildren take after him,” said Mrs Borland.

A magical time during their marriage was 15 years ago when they moved to India for a year. Mr Borland was the team leader designing the upgrading of 223km of

a section of the national road system.

“India is a vivid, pulsating, spiritual country. We left some very beloved people behind when we came back to South Africa. When we first got married I told David that I wanted a midnight blue Sari. I bought it when we lived in India,” said Mrs Borland.

“When I met Felicity 51 years ago, I saw a happy, strong, positive, caring and smiling person. To me she is still beautiful and I thank God each day that she agreed to be my wife,” said Mr Borland.

An important aspect that strengthened their marriage is faith.

“Life presented us with times of deep sadness, but our steadfast belief in God drew us closer in faith, love and compassion,” said Mrs Borland.

When asked what is the secret to their long and happy marriage, Mrs Borland said, “David has a good sense of humour and makes me laugh. To me, it’s kindness, patience, understanding, communication and love.”

“We have a shared faith, share the same values and think the same politically.”

“I have been very well loved, looked after and supported. Felicity is a wonderful partner and friend,” said Mr Borland.