uMhlanga couple celebrate 60 years in holy matrimony
Although the couple went to the same schools growing up, they never met.
MAINTAINING their independence has been Elizabeth and Anthony Hicks’ credo over the 60 years they have been married.
The loving uMhlanga couple, who celebrated their Diamond Jubilee on October 20, say that doing what they want and not getting in each other’s way is what has kept them together for this long.
“It’s important to understand what your partner requires out of their life and make sure that you maintain your independence; otherwise, everything will just collapse. Maintaining your independence also means that one person doesn’t dominate the other,” said Anthony.
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Anthony says that even though they went to the same schools growing up, they never met.
“It’s funny in its own way because we both grew up in this north part of Durban, we both went to Chelsea Preparatory School, and we both went to Northlands High School – Elizabeth to Northlands Girls’ and me to Northlands Boys’, but we didn’t meet all those years even though we were just one year apart.
“We met at the Mount Edgecombe Natal Estate Sugar Company on 1 January 1962. I thought she looked nice, and I asked her out in February,” said Tony.
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It was on Elizabeth’s 21st birthday, when they had gone out for dinner, that Anthony asked for her hand in marriage. The couple tied the knot in October of 1962.
Elizabeth said that keeping life simple is what has kept them together for this long. The duo emphasised the importance of working through tribulations together as a couple to have a long and healthy marriage.
“Keep life simple and be as accommodating as you can without destroying what you think. You have to keep your beliefs. Yes, we’ve had our disagreements, but nothing that we couldn’t sort out,” said Elizabeth.
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“Life is so different these days, and it’s always best to try not to be influenced by outside factors, but to examine your own likes and dislikes before you get together and decide to stay together,” said Tony.
The duo says that the best parts of their marriage are the three boys, six granddaughters, one grandson and a great-granddaughter they have been blessed with.
They celebrated their special day with a dinner with their family.
