Sixty years of wonderful memories are what Marlands couple Edwin (83) and Joyce (81) van Niekerk celebrated on Thursday.
The couple who married on Saturday, November 5, 1955, shared some of their memories from the past 60 years with the GCN, among calls from well wishers.
“We met in 1950 at the Malvern Methodist Church.
“My cousin had a crush on Joyce, he lost out,” Edwin said with a laugh.
“We met just after my 16th birthday, but only married after my 21st birthday because my father said you had to be 21 to get married,” Joyce remembered.
The couple moved briefly to the Southern Suburbs but put down roots in Germiston in 1966 moving to Marlands where they still live today.
They have two sons Alan and David van Niekerk.
“We have 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren,” explained Joyce.
In the 1970s with the support of Joyce, Edwin started and managed a soccer club in Primrose.
“We were called the Primrose Spurs and we started to keep the youth of the community out of trouble and to get them involved in sport,” Edwin said.
The club were winners in the local 1973 league.
“We later moved the club to Hattingh Park, which was later taken over by Luso Africa.
“I am very proud of Luso for keeping soccer alive in Primrose, and wish the club all the best for the future,” Edwin said.
Edwin no longer plays soccer, and instead entertains the elderly of the East Rand with his singing talent.
“A friend and I do performances in Germiston, Boksburg and Benoni.
“Singing only the golden oldies,” said Edwin.
Joyce is a proud member of the The Memorable Order of Tin Hats Women’s Auxiliary (MOTHWA).
She started work with the organisation in 1960.
“I love the elderly.
“We both do what we can to support and care for them,” said Joyce.
Joyce still attends MOTHWA meetings every month and helps out at events.
The couple who are still very happily married offer some advice to younger couples, “Be sure you are happy with your chosen partner,” said Edwin.
“You make a promise with your wedding vows and that promise needs to be kept.
“Sure you are gonna have your ups and downs but you need to work through it and support each other.
“A relationship is give, take and a lot of understanding and support,” said Joyce.
“I still love Edwin very much.”
“Joyce is still my everything,” Edwin said.
The couple celebrated their anniversary with a family dinner.
Other anniversary articles:
Travelling a long road together
