Pinetown couple celebrate 50 years of golden love

PINETOWN’S loving powerhouse couple, Patrick and Carol Williams celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss on July 31.

Patrick, or Peter as he is affectionately known by friends and family, first met Carol in December in 1969 in Bellville South in the northern suburbs of Cape Town at the farewell of a mutual friend.

“He visited me at our home a couple of times before our first date. We didn’t go on a date until after my 19th birthday, to which he was invited. We went to the movies on our first date,” smiled Carol.

The couple said they knew they were meant for each other and embraced their whirlwind romance. Peter bravely bent the knee and popped the question on her 20th birthday on February 9 in 1970. A few months later, on July 31 in 1971, they tied the knot at the Parish of the Imacularr Conception (Catholic Church) in Parow.

“During the apartheid era, there weren’t many places people of colour could go and we didn’t really have the means to travel internationally, so we opted for a hotel in Idas Valley in Stellenbosch,” said Carol.

Before retirement, Peter started out in his father’s construction business as a wall and floor tiler and moved to fumigation a few years after relocating to Durban in September of 1975. He is still involved with pest control to this day.

Carol said she worked in admin until 1999 and then moved to the PR department at the University of KwaZulu-Natal as an events co-ordinator. A spot she held until she retired in December in 2011.

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They said they have been blessed with three daughters and sons, they are the proud grandparents to 14 grandchildren and have two great grandchildren, with a third on the way.

Peter keeps himself busy during his spare time with wood carving while Carol enjoys music and baking. The couple share a passion and love for the outdoors and travelling.

“Most of our travelling has been local. We’ve been to all nine provinces, but we must say that our favourite places are the southern Drakensberg and the Baviaans Kloof. Internationally, we’ve been to Greece and Mauritius. In 2012, when both of us were retired, we did a six-month tour of our amazing South Africa and Namibia in our fully-fitted Land Rover Defender named ‘Bosvark’. That was our most exiting adventure, the memories of which we’ll carry with us to the end of our days on this earth. Just to see the wonders of God’s creation is awe inspiring,” said Peter.

Their heart’s desire is to do an overland trip into Africa, in our Landy, before they ‘grow too old’. “We had planned on visiting my brother in New Zealand but, due to Covid-19, those plans fell through the cracks,” said Carol.

Their secret to a long and successful marriage lies in remembering the day they met and when they fell in love.

“Never lose sight of it. Hold hands while walking down the street or in the shopping mall. Marriage is hard but rewarding work. Communication and respect for each other is of the utmost importance. Not forgetting intimacy – always make time for just the two of you. We’ve had so many dates and honeymoons since we got married,” smiled Peter.

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