Couple’s love gleams golden

LOVING Westville couple, Bing and Val Bowden, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday 23 May.

They first met while window shopping in Ealing in 1958. “We were both looking at something, commented on it and started chatting. We continuously bumped into each other from then on and, a few weeks later, he plucked up the courage and asked me out on a date,” said Val.

After years of dating, they decided to tie the knot at the St Thomas Church in Boston Manner and went on a three week honeymoon to Yugoslavia. They left the UK in 1968 on a two year working visa in South Africa and have lived here ever since.

In 1971, they welcomed their first of three children into the world. They have three children, Lawrence, James and Kirsten and are the proud grandparents of four.

In 1989, they moved to Westville and both of them admit that they “absolutely fell in love” with the area.

To celebrate their special day, the couple headed to Durban’s beach front and enjoyed a breakfast at Circus Circus, watching the waves roll in with the sand in between their toes. As a second celebration, the Bowden’s Bible study group hosted a luncheon for them in Botha’s Hill. ” As the final part of our anniversary celebration, we will meet our entire family for a holiday in Greece,” said Val.

They both believe that their marriage has been such a grand success due to their tolerance for each other. “No one can always agree on everything and we are able to reach a compromising point of agreement. Oh, and keeping the romance alive is also important,” said Bing.