JUST like diamonds never lose their sparkle, Gillitts couple, Peggy and Garth Buhrmann, believe their marriage will never lose its love, which is why they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last month.
Peggy met Garth while at technical college in Pietermaritzburg. Her friend next door asked her parents for permission to take Peggy on a trip to Warner Beach for a friendly hockey match. Her folks agreed, and the next day a couple of fellows, including Garth, collected them and off they went, only to discover at their destination that there had been a mix-up and the opponents had gone off elsewhere.
“Not wanting to waste the trip, we spent the morning canoeing on the river, had lunch at the Firefly and joined the traffic homeward-bound. We got stuck in fast-moving traffic when the car ahead of us suddenly braked and Garth, our driver, couldn’t avoid his bumper crashing into it. He was most upset but fortunately could still carry on and I was impressed with his attitude and apologies to us for the upset,” said Peggy.
They parted ways upon their return but not for long. Peggy went with her family to Longmarket Street to visit some friends. Peggy and her sisters were in their back garden when they heard a racket next door. She convinced her sisters to climb out onto the adjacent garage roof and check out what was going on. A group of young men were parading in a circle with toy drums, penny whistles and other small musical instruments making a racket, and one of them was Garth.
“When he saw me, he signalled me to go around to the front gate and explained that they were practising a skit on the Caledonian Pipe Band as the Jacaranda Jocks for the Azalea Festival Group Parade competition and asked if I would accompany him to the social to be held at the Town Hall afterwards. I didn’t hesitate,” said Peggy.
A few years later they married at the Presbyterian Church, Longmarket Street in Pietermaritzburg. Peggy said it was ironic as the venue was opposite the 20th Century Theatre and the film showing at the time was Love is a Many-Splendoured Thing.
They settled in Rushbrooke and had three sons then moved to Greenacre Place in Kloof in 1967. They tried their hands at farming pigs and dairy in Cato Ridge, and then returned to Everton until 2002, from where they emigrated to Canada to join their youngest son, Kevin. They decided to return to SA in 2004 as Garth needed hip replacements.
Peggy worked at ABSA for 29 years and Garth as a tool maker and then as a light engineer technician at CSIR and then retired from UKZN’s chemistry department.
Garth said the secret to the 60 years of marriage is being considerate and loving towards each other. He said he still remembers Peggy as the sweetheart he met so many years ago. Peggy smiled and said that she married a clever man, who looked after her and their family well.
“God has blessed us with our three sons, their wives and our eight grandchildren. We pray we may be spared for many more happy years together,” said Peggy.
The couple celebrated their 60th anniversary at a special luncheon with family and friends on Sunday, 28 February.
