A blind date and a proposal a month later led to decades of love for Amanzimtoti sweethearts Quinton and Minnie Wood (80) who celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on Monday, 10 July.
To add to their fairytale, Quinton’s younger brother, Colin met Minnie’s older sister, Anne at their wedding. They fell in love and are still blissfully married today.
Quinton also celebrates his 92nd birthday on Thursday, 13 July.
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They met in Vryheid when Minnie’s friends asked her to go dancing, but she would only join them if she had a dancing partner.
Enter the dapper 27-year-old Quinton and he swept the 16-year-old off her feet with his charm. A month later, in June 1953, he proposed. “I just knew she was the one,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
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Minnie was born in Vryheid and did her schooling in the northern Zululand town and the neighbouring town of Dundee. Quinton was born in Port Shepstone and completed his schooling there, until he moved to Vryheid to pursue a job offer.
The Woods were married a year later in July 1954.
“Always obey your husband,” said Minnie. “I have to always obey my wife,” was Quinton’s return quirk, an indication of his wit and great sense of humour.
“We have never had problems or difficulties in our marriage,” said Minnie. “I’m his whole world and I can’t live without him. That’s true love.”
Find the full story on the Woods’ enduring marriage in this week’s South Coast Sun, which hits the streets this Thursday.