LONG time friends and loving couple, Ronnie and Jessie Spring of Musgrave celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on 21 April with family and friends.
The couple said love was the secret to their long, happy marriage, and the fact that they were good friends and strong Christians.
“We’ve been courting since we were 18 years old. We turn 86 this year, so have been friends for a long time!” said Ronnie.
The couple met at a picnic with friends in Amanzimtoti. “We looked at each other and said ‘I wonder’…” said Jessie, who would go and watch Robbie play football. That was the start to a friendship that has strengthened and grown over the years.
They got engaged on Jessie’s 21st birthday and were married two years later in 1951 at the Stamford Hill Road Methodist Church by the then Rev Orchard.
The couple have two children, a son and a daughter, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Ronnie worked in construction which led to the couple speculating in housing as they would build a house, live in it for a short while and then sell up and move. “We’ve been all over and I have been in many homes!” said Jessie.
The couple also tried their hand at farming in Port Edward for a number of years and were on the Port Edward town board, with Ronnie serving as chairman for six years.
They moved back to Durban and as the building boom was not great, they switched to the fuel and property industry.
“We came to Garden Grove to retire and are very impressed by the way we are catered for here. We are very comfortable here in our home,” said Ronnie.
Ronnie enjoyed playing football when he was younger and the couple spent many years caravaning and camping, spending a lot of time fishing, swimming and sunbathing.
Ronnie still enjoys watching sport on TV, especially English football, rugby and tennis. He is also a keen reader.
Jessie likes to watch TV and enjoys ‘alone time’ in the mornings. “I love music and laughing!” she said.
“We’re still very active and often go for walks to Musgrave Centre. I still drive a car so we enjoy going on drives. My whole ambition is to look after my wife, and I asked the Lord to give me the strength to do this,” said Ronnie.
The couple spent their anniversary at home at Garden Grove. They celebrated with champagne for all the residents and enjoyed a meal with Ronnie’s family at their home. “Ronnie is a good old chap! He cares for me, my health and what I do,” said Jessie.
“I can only say that I love Jessie as much as I did when I first met her. She is a quality person. We have had tons of arguments, but we have had a lot of fun making up,” said Ronnie smiling.
