Ontdekkers Park couple celebrates sixty years of love
Their anniversary was on 10 January
The story about 84-year-old Godfrey, and 82-year-old Cynthia Micklethwaite is not one of love at first sight, but rather a beautiful love story that unfolded slowly.
The couple, who have been residents in Ontdekkers Park for the past 48 years, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on 10 January.
“We both are originally from Maitland in Cape Town, and, before moving to Ontdekkers Park, we spent 12 years in Durban as well,” Cynthia said.
They both attended primary and high school in Maitland, where they knew of each other, but it was never too serious, and Cynthia said, “We met again in Durban in January 1957, and we started corresponding with each other, as I was living and working in Cape Town and Godfrey was living and working in Durban.”
She added that, during this time, Godfrey also attended the World Scout Jamboree in England, and on his arrival back in South Africa, he proposed to her.
“We got engaged on my 21st birthday, and, after another year of maintaining a long-distance relationship through correspondence, we got married on 10 January 1959,” Cynthia said, smiling.
The couple has three children, Malcolm, Maureen and Russell, as well as four grandchildren, whom they adore.
Their secret to a long and happy marriage is simple. Cynthia said, “You should always be there for each other, and share everything. You should always remember that marriage is a partnership where both parties give, as well as take. But, the most important is living a Christian life.”
The couple is quite an inspiration to their children, who said that is quite adorable to see their parents still walking hand-in-hand when they go shopping, and calling each other ‘lovey’. They were in agreement that they were proud of their parents, and that their marriage was an example for them to follow.
Godfrey and Cynthia also believe that being able to laugh together is an integral part of keeping your marriage on the right path, and she concluded with the following story: “Just before our 40th wedding anniversary, Godfrey cut his thumb and had to go to hospital to have stitches put in. And, even though it looked innocent enough, I still believe to this day that it was just an excuse to not have to wash dishes when the family arrived for a party, as he always does the washing up.”
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