Sense of humour keeps marriage strong for 50 years
Westville lovebirds, Peter and Tricia Ibbetson tied the knot in the Free Church in Chingola in 1974.
A SHARED sense of humour was the attraction for Peter and Tricia Ibbetson who celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, July 27.
Peter (86) and Tricia (76) met in Chingola in Zambia when they were both working for Nchanga Copper Mines.
“We met at an induction course when I first arrived in Chingola, and we were married in the Free Church in Chingola in 1974.”
The long-term Westville residents enjoyed a very active social life in Chingola. Peter, in particular, made full use of his creative talents, taking part in pantomimes and hosting the annual Old Time Musical.
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The couple also ran several successful horse racing fundraisers which Peter helped organise. He also stood as a bookie on those occasions with Tricia as the bookmaker’s clerk, which she describes as ‘quite nerve-racking as maths was never my strong point’.
Peter also wrote for the Zambian newspaper as a racing pundit.
“I also enjoyed golf, bowls, cricket and squash, and my wife, Tricia, enjoyed playing bowls, too, although she preferred the social game more – a gentle stroll up and down with a break for tea – much more civilised!
“She was, however, banned from playing squash when she hit the ball and it got stuck on a roof rafter at a time when there was a shortage of squash balls!!”
Peter and Tricia have been blessed with two daughters who were both born in Chingola. They also have two grandchildren.
“After the birth of our second daughter, due to escalating crime and food shortages, we made the difficult decision to leave and move to South Africa,” said Tricia.
Their first three months in Durban were spent in a holiday flat on the beachfront while they house hunted. They eventually bought the house in Westville that they still occupy today.
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Since moving to Westville, Peter realised a lifelong ambition to write a novel and was encouraged by Tricia. This was self-published in 2008.
“It was enjoyed by many and even placed in the Westville Library. As copies of this book have gone to several different countries of the world, mainly to friends and family, this made me proud, and I told people I am married to an international author,” Tricia said with a smile.
This encouraged Peter to join forces with his oldest daughter to write a collection of short stories and poems, which has also been published.
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