Diamond couple is a shining example

WATERFALL couple, Pam and Bob Heathcote, celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Thursday 1 May.

They first met in February 1954 when Bob’s cousin introduced him to Pam when they went to watch a movie.

“It wasn’t love at first sight but it was definitely a whirlwind romance as we were married three months later,” said Pam.

They were married at the Old Fort Chapel on 1 May by Reverend Stanley Sudbury. As they were both working at the time, they were unable to take time off from work to go on honeymoon. A few months later they travelled to Margate for a two-week honeymoon.

Pam worked as a hairdresser from the age of 16 until she retired in 1976. Bob worked for Eskom, starting as a switchboard operator and worked his way up in the company until he was promoted to the superintendent of power operations. He worked there for 37 years.

The loving couple has three sons, Michael, Graham and Kenneth, and one daughter, Janice. They are the proud grandparents of six and have one great grandchild.

“We stayed in Durban initially until Bob was transferred to Vereeniging, where we lived for 13 years. When Bob retired in 1991 we moved to Umtentweni and a few years later, after some coaxing by one of my sons, we moved back to Durban. We are thinking of going back down the South Coast though,” said Pam.

Bob said they have not travelled overseas together as he would much rather stay at home and look after their two dogs, Jessie and Cinnamon. Pam on the other hand said she enjoys travelling and fondly remembered her two-month trip to Europe with her sister and a mutual friend.

To mark the auspicious occasion, the couple got together with their family in South Africa and celebrated their anniversary with an intimate dinner.