THE love between Ashley couple, James Watson and Pamela Marlow, has continued to blossom and bloom after 50 years of marriage.
The couple first met in 1966 when James was 19 and Pamela was 17. Pam was in need of a partner for a prefect dance at Northlands Boys High and was set up with James, more affectionately known as Jimmy, as her plus one. Fast forward to 1970 and they were officially engaged.
They tied the knot on 3 April in 1971 at the Durban North Methodist Church and made their way to the Drakensberg for their honeymooon, where they both landed up getting sick.
Despite this small hiccup, it has not deterred them from travelling. They enjoy holidays in the Transkei and have celebrated wedding anniversaries in Mauritius and Madagascar. Their all-time favourite place to visit is Australia, where they have the opportunity to spend time with their youngest daughter, Pia.
James worked for Federated Timbers, which then became Builders Trade Depo, while Pamela followed a career in education at Pinetown Girls’ High School.
They have three daughters, Luanne, Shireen and Pia and have five grandchildren with one more on the way.
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In their spare time, James loves nothing more than to potter around in the garden and complete woodwork projects in his workshop as he is a carpenter by trade. Pam said she enjoys crocheting. Together they run and will take part in any park run as they have completed more than 100 in South Africa at 25 different venues as well as a number in Australia.
To highlight their love for park runs, they even created a track around their house so they can still complete one each Saturday morning.
“We are both very outgoing and seem to have ticked off everything on our bucket list, so we are just enjoying life to the fullest at the moment,” they said.
To celebrate their big day, they spent time with their family and close friends. As for their secret to a successful, long and lasting marriage, they both agreed it was the love and mutual respect they have for one another and taking the time out to spend quality time with one another.
“We love and respect you and want to thank you both for all that you have done for us. We are so blessed to have you as our parents and our children are blessed to have you as their grandparents. We love you both to the moon and back,” said their three daughters.