Couple celebrate Platinum wedding anniversary

MADGE Steffen has many memories of her wedding day 70 years ago, but none so clear as that of being transported down Field’s Hill on the back of her brother’s motorcycle in the early hours of the morning on her wedding day, 25 March, 1950.

“The day started off at five in the morning and I can recall being on the back of my brother’s motorbike to go out to the Bluff to begin the preparations for the day,” said Madge last week when Highway Mail visited the couple at their home in Flame Lily Park, Queensburgh.

ALSO READ:  Hillcrest couple’s love beats all odds

“I remember the sunrise being so very beautiful,” reminisced the 92-year-old woman as she made a cup of tea.

“The wedding was a small afternoon one, we didn’t have money for a lavish wedding like the ones many people have today.”

Roy Steffen, with a twinkle in his eye, joked that Madge is the best “first wife” he could hope for. The 96-year-old who turns 97 in May said he feels very blessed by his marriage and the love and companionship he and Madge have shared over the past 72 years together.

The couple first met at church youth group and throughout their married life together stayed close to the church, especially the youth services in the congregations they have been part of.

Roy said he attributes the success of their marriage to their faith. “Faith is what brought us together, and our faith has given us the ability to weather all that life has thrown our way,” he said.

ALSO READ:  Laughter keeps Waterfall couple’s connection strong

Madge said Roy used to be very popular at church events like Sunday school picnics because of his great sense of humour and feel that being able to laugh together is very important in a relationship.

“Roy has always been the clown,” she recalled. “He still has a great sense of humour and makes me laugh all the time.”

Daughters

The couple raised their three daughters, Judy, Ruth and Margot, in Estcourt for many years although they began their married life in Escombe where they were members of the Escombe Methodist Church which is now the same building that houses Christ Church.

While in the early stage of their marriage, they were members of the Malvern Guild of Youth and enjoyed participating in church related youth work as well as Sunday School work.

Roy, who used to own his own fertiliser factory, also worked in a cartage business in Escombe for some time, and in the Eskort Bacon Factory while they were in Estcourt. The couple returned to Queensburgh after Roy’s retirement.

Wisdom of age

The couple’s daughter, Ruth said Madge was well known by her and her friends as a “walking encyclopedia” with a vast general knowledge of both what to do and how to do most things.

“There was nothing we could ask her ever which she didn’t have a good working knowledge of,” she laughed.

The couple have four grandchildren, Kristen, Jonathan, Jessica and James, and five great grandchildren, Roanna (10), Olivia (6), Aaron (2), Chloe and Hazel who are six and one months old respectively and live in Australia.

Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via Telegram? Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts.

Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.