What a life Alan and Shirley Goosen have lived.
The Gerdview couple celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary (60 years) on Thursday, and are in the process of penning their life experiences in the hope that their story will inspire others.
The couple met when Shirley was in hospital with pneumonia.
“Alan came to visit me with my brother, Clive, he was hiding behind a bunch of flowers,” Shirley remembered fondly.
“We were both shy, but I said to him, you don’t have to hide I’m not going to bite.”
The couple then began to date.
“I used to ride a motorbike,” explained Alan.
“And, I remember, every time I visited Shirley, while we dating, her mother would tell me about all the motorbike accidents she had read about in the local paper.”
The couple dated for three years before becoming engaged.
“It took three engagement parties before we were officially engaged, because Shirley’s stepfather didn’t like me,” said Alan.
On Saturday, June 4, 1955, the pair were married in the Kensington Congregational Church.
Shirley recounts, with a giggle, how one of Alan’s work colleagues stood on her dress, causing it to pull up at the back.
Alan remembers how nervous he was about making his speech at the wedding reception.
The pair, who have lived in Germiston for 21 years, have two children, son David, and daughter Beverley Sanders, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
They have dedicated their lives to the church since 1984, travelling all over the country as missionaries.
“In all our years out on the road the Lord provided for us,” said Shirley.
They moved back to Germiston when Alan lost his sight and hearing, as a side affect of his diabetes.
They remain active members of the church and enjoyed spending their anniversary at The Cornerstone Church in Bedfordview.
“We spent our anniversary with the church, where they call us the ‘Victorious Warriors’,” Shirley said happily.
The couple offered some words of wisdom to couples hoping to reach this milestone wedding anniversary:
“When you are married it’s for life, it isn’t always going to be smooth sailing, you have to learn to work through things and do the best you can,” said Alan.
“Like a career you have to work hard at being married to make it a success,” said Shirley.
Other milestone anniversaries:
Couple reaches 60 years and counting
Travelling a long road together
