Fullers nail six decades of wedded bliss

Like the hand-crafted furniture that adorns their cozy Waterfall home, the Fullers’ love for each other and their relationship is just as unique, strong and balanced.

Quintin Arthur Fuller (85) and Pamela Fuller (82) have declared patience and humour are the key ingredients for a successful marriage. The couple, who celebrated their diamond anniversary last week, met when Quintin was 20 and Pamela was 18.

Quintin, who lived in Camperdown, and Pamela, who resided in Empangeni in Zululand, first laid eyes on each other at a picnic in Quintin’s hometown.

Attracted to her physical beauty, Quintin approached Pamela and asked her out. The couple spent their first date on the beach. The skilled carpenter, who also worked on the farm he lived on, courted Pamela, a former bookkeeper, for five years before they wed.

Quintin, who handmade some of the furniture in their house, said, “I had to build a house for us before getting married. I built a house on our farm. Furniture was very expensive, so I decided to make my own. I also built a school on the farm, which catered for about 80 at the time.”

The couple, who now live at the Waterfall Gardens Retirement Village, wed on 8 January, 1955. Two hundred guests gathered at St Thomas’ Church in Durban to celebrate the couple’s unison.

Pamela’s superb culinary skills and high standards captured Quintin’s heart from the very beginning.

Pamela, a passionate gardener said, “A sense of humour and patience are important in every relationship. The success of our marriage was also based on making decisions together and having mutual understanding and agreement. Quintin and I always agreed on the way things should be done.”

While Pamela enjoys reading and gardening, Quintin enjoys watching sport.

The proud parents of two sons, and grandparents of two granddaughters, celebrated their milestone with family and friends.