Thomas (79) and Sarah (78) Webb recently celebrated their magical 60th wedding anniversary.
The Elspark couple met in 1953, in Durban; they moved to Germiston in 2005.
“He used to secretly pass by my house to drop love letters because he was afraid to knock at the door,” said Sarah.
“We would find love letters under the door, and in all of them he was asking to come and visit me.”
Thomas told a GCN journalist that it was love at first sight for him.
“I fell in love with her the minute I saw her and made it a personal mission to get to know her, and I eventually got her address from a friend,” he said.
Sarah said curiosity got the better of her.
“I was obviously curious to find out who this secret admirer was, which is why I invited him to come over to visit,” she said.
“He came to the house a few times and we started talking, but I wasn’t that keen.
“He pursued me regardless and escorted me from work, just to spend time with me and just so I didn’t run away from him.
“I finally gave in to his proposal of us being a couple and, on April 6, 1954, we decided to get married.”
“No, no, she was the one who asked me to get engaged,” explained Thomas, correcting his wife.
“It was a mutual agreement to get engaged and get married and, on December 4, the same year (1954) we tied the knot at a Dutch Reformed Church in Durban.”
The couple has six children; Christina Venter, Thomas, Jan, Katrina, Theuns and Justin Webb, four of whom are still living.
“Two of our children, Thomas and Katrina, passed on years back and, although we have healed, they will always be remembered,” said Sarah.
“We are blessed to have seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, and we love all of them.”
Their grandchildren are: Mariska Struwig, Andre, Quinton and Werner Venter; Thomas, Tia and Ashley Webb.
Their great grandchildren are: Kayla, Hailey, Ivan, Ilza and Zandri Venter; Enrico Struwig and Ruben Webb.
When asked about the secret for a long-lasting and happy marriage Thomas said: “It is a give and take, and not just take, you have to understand each other and communicate your feelings and what you want.
“Try to be happy at all times, against all odds.”
Sarah nodded in agreement with her husband.
“Yes, it’s true, you have to love, respect and trust each other at all times,” she added.
“Never, in our 60 years of marriage, have we let a big argument overlap to the next day; by sunset we make sure it is over and gone.”
“We are religious and believe that you must have God in your lives together, because without God you can’t survive.”
“We would like to say thank you to Nadia Venter, our granddaughter-in-law, for organising the interview with GCN for us.”
