MARGIE and John King celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on 6 March. The uMhlanga couple celebrated with a trip to Hluhluwe Game reserve.
They had just returned when the Northglen News visited to find out about their secret to a lasting marriage. The setting was anything but romantic when the couple met.
“John interviewed me for my first job,”said Margie.
At the time, John was the company accountant for Schweps and Margie was interviewing for a secretarial job.
Not only did she get the job, she landed herself a husband and 50 happy years of marriage – but the romance would not blossom until some time later.
Also read: Mount Edgecombe couple reflect on 50 happy years
“We were friends for about eight months. At the end of February John called and asked if I would go to a party with him and his friend. The night before he called and said his friend was not going to make it. He asked if I’d still go with him and that became our first date,”said Margie.
A few months later, in August, John found out that the company was going to transfer him to Cape Town. He decided to propose to Margie before he left The couple married at the Central Baptist Church in Durban in 1971 with 350 people at their wedding. The then newlyweds moved into a flat on Avondale Road before moving to Yellow Wood Park where they bought their first house.
“That’s where our children were both born. Warren was born in 1972 and Debbie in 1975,”said Margie. Margie worked part time as an estate agent and John continued to work as an accountant, but moved to Unicorn shipping company, which is now called Grindrod Shipping. Both their children joined John in the shipping business and they are still working their today. “Debbie is an accountant and Warren is a crew manager,”said John.
Also read:Golden couple ‘on track’ for 50 years after train meeting
Commenting on her parents lasting marriage, daughter Debbie said: “50 years ago these amazing people said, ‘I do.’ Their continued love and support for each other is an inspiration to both Warren and I and all the beautiful friends you have surrounded yourselves with over the years.” “We are so privileged to have the best parents in the world who give us so much love and support,”added Warren.
They settled in uMhlanga in 2000. John plays gold and Margie enjoys water aerobics. The couple enjoy walking on the promenade and socialising with friends. They both belong to the Durban North Probus and South African Association of Retired Persons (SAARP).
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