Durban North couple celebrate 60 bright years together
Through the years, the Longs have been an absolute power couple – running businesses and a home together, travelling and raising a family.
IT was all thanks to a blind date that Ian and Elna Long have gotten to spend 60 fulfilling years together as husband and wife. The couple, who live in Durban North, celebrated their diamond anniversary on Saturday.
Looking back to the 1960s when they met, Ian recalls that a friend of his invited him to a ‘dance’ which Elna and her cousin were also attending.
“My friend and Elna’s cousin set us up to meet and that’s how we started dating. Although, the dance actually turned out to be the drive-in. Two years later, I popped the question, and we got married in 1963,” he says.
After meeting Ian, Elna completed her secretarial course at college and went overseas for six months where she travelled throughout Europe. Ian was involved in the family business at the time, but he and Elna still kept in touch by sending each other postcards.
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“The post office worked back then.” Elna laughs.
“When I returned to Durban, Ian fetched me from the airport and popped the question. I obviously said yes. I was 19 at the time and had to have my parents’ consent to get married,” she says.
The Longs exchanged wedding vows at St Martin’s Church in Durban North and moved into a flat in Musgrave. Shortly after, they purchased their first home in Glenashley before finally settling in Durban North.
“We have three beautiful daughters: Vivienne, Tania and Natasha. We also have four grandsons: Taine, Aidan, Ross and Denham. What a delight to have boys in the family after it’s been just girls for such a long time.” Ian chuckles.
“Ian isn’t a traveller like I am, but I once persuaded him to go away with me. He had no idea where we were even going. When we landed, he found himself in Hong Kong and although he doesn’t like crowds, he enjoyed the trip very much. We have been to many countries together. The most recent was Portugal,” says Elna.
They both agree that marriage is not always a bed of roses and say they have also had a few obstacles, but the most important factor that contributed to the success of their union was that they were always supportive of each other.
“We always showed each other support and love, and we listened to each other’s problems whenever there was one,” he says.
Now that the Longs have sold their businesses, they plan on enjoying their retirement by travelling more, spending time with family and relaxing.
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