Gillitts couple celebrates 60 years of marriage

TYING the knot on 14 February may have been a coincidence for Derrick and Betty Stringer, but there is no doubt they share a strong bond and were destined to be together.

The Gillitts couple will be celebrating their 60th anniversary on Thursday, 14 February.

Betty only knew three weeks before her wedding day that she was getting married.

“I did not have any say, my husband organised everything and I didn’t get a chance to run away,” joked the cheerful Betty.

Derrick said when they got married he did not know that it was Valentine’s Day, “It was the closest Saturday that was available and it just happened to be 14 February.

The couple grew up in a town just outside of London and moved to South Africa in 1963.

They knew each other from childhood and started dating when they were both 21.

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“When we were teenagers, we used to ride home together and we lost contact when I went to the army and we bumped into each other again after I came back,” said Derrick.

Over the years, they have done lots of exciting activities together which includes camping and car rallies which were their utmost favourites hobbies.

“We are not only a married couple, but friends as well and we look after each other. Marriage requires lots of patience, forgiveness, it is a give and take situation and people should always be willing to give more than take,” said Betty.

They spent 55 years of their lives in the Bluff area and have been blessed with five children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.