Dinkels celebrate epic love story

IT’S not often that you come across a couple quite like Bonnie and Rainer (Ding) Dinkel. Their incredible journey really began 55 years ago.

Bonnie said they both grew up in Morningside and met when she was 12 and he was 15. Three years later they were a couple. They were told that they were too young to fall in love but it is obvious to anyone who knows them today, that they were, and have remained, in love.

They were married by Rev Bannon at the Old Fort Chapel on 22 July 1966 at the ages of 17 and 20, promising to “never give up, stand together and always offer unconditional support”.

Family and friends agree that they have faced every single one of life’s challenges together and are a phenomenal testament to what it means to grow through things rather than just go through things.

Bonnie and Ding bought their first home in Malvern where they raised their three beautiful children, Grant, Carla and Heidi. Together they bought and renovated another house around the corner from theirs and established a nursery school which was registered for 100 children and ran for 18 remarkable years.

Their exceptional encouragement for each other also saw Ding, by then a workshop manager for a large company, winning many overseas trips and this couple turned these adventures into loving, fun-filled memories.

Fast forward to present, and you will find them enjoying their breathtaking view from their Alverstone home. Their children are grateful for having grown up with the daily example of deep loving unity and unwavering values. Keeping track of seven beloved grandchildren aged 10 to 23 and a passion for hobbies and crafts, which includes motorbike riding on occasions, fill this couple’s days. The nights are reserved for dancing in the kitchen to their favourite music while cooking together over a glass of wine.

Ding explained the secret to their long-lasting marriage is simply enjoying each other’s company in all that they do. Bonnie agreed and said that she loves her husband to bits. nothing about him had changed from the first day she had met him and he has always been there for her.

Ding said: “I have never wanted a woman to walk in front or behind me, but to always walk at my side which is what Bonnie has done for all these years. We were very young when we married but have enjoyed every moment together. I love her the same as when I met her too.”

The couple’s advice to younger married couples is to love and forgive each other and work through your problems together. “People get older and their marriage lacks communication but it is important that you show each other love every day,”said Ding.

To mark their golden jubilee, the couple held an anniversary celebration with family on Friday, 22 July, and a special soiree at their home with their friends on Saturday night.