uMhlanga couple celebrates five decades
The Kings shared their recipe for success with the Northglen News last week as they prepared to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on 18 December.
COMMUNICATION and honesty are two things that uMhlanga couple, Irma and Dennis King, believe are important for a successful marriage. The Kings shared their recipe for success with the Northglen News last week as they prepared to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on 18 December.
The couple met in the United Kingdom in 1963 during a social gathering in Epsom. They were introduced by a mutual friend. Irma, who was born in Holland, was au pairing in England at the time and Dennis was a structural engineer.
Dennis immediately began courting Irma. Fondly, they recalled how Dennis fetched her on his Lambretta scooter for their first date at a pub. Two years later, they were married in Ewell, Surrey.
In 1968, the Kings emigrated to Johannesburg, where Dennis worked for a firm of consulting engineers. Dennis’s passion for the sea and scuba diving drew them to the sunny shores of Durban in 1970. That same year, they celebrated the birth of their first child.
Sadly, in 1973, due to the growing political tension in the country, the couple returned to the UK. However, they returned to Africa a year later when they lived in Swaziland for several years. Dennis was involved in the construction of King Sobhuza’s palace and several other projects.
“Once Africa is in your blood, it is difficult to stay anywhere else,” said Irma.
In 1980, the Kings returned to Durban, where they settled in uMhlanga. Over the years, their marriage has been blessed with two children and four grandchildren.
When asked what their recipe for success was, Dennis said, “Communication and honesty are important. It is essential that a couple discuss things and support each other. Life will have its ups and downs, but you must take on the challenges together. I believe people should also have tolerance for one another.”
Irma agreed, saying, “Not everyone is perfect and people are different, which is why it is also important that you give each other space and time to enjoy and pursue your own interests and passions.”
On 6 December the Kings celebrated their anniversary with friends and family, including three other couples who were also celebrating their 50th wedding anniversaries, all within 18 months of each other. Two of the couples are old college friends visiting from England.
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