Half a century of bliss for McCourts
A WHIRLWIND romance led Bluff couple Dermott ‘Mac’ and Rose ‘Ross’ McCourt down the aisle a year after meeting and on Saturday, 4 January they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
The pair met on Christmas Eve in 1962 and had their first date on New Year’s Eve. “Within a week we both knew we would be married soon,” said Mac. The engagement was set for Valentine’s Day but was postponed when Mac’s mother died shortly before. They were eventually engaged on Ross’ birthday, 1 April.
They were scheduled to be married in November, but this date was also postponed when the couple were involved in a crash that claimed the lives of three people and put Ross in a coma one week before the wedding.
They were finally wed two months later at St Mary’s Church in Rugby, England. They moved to the Bluff in 1972 due to Mac’s work commitments and have been there ever since.
Ross, who currently works as a nursing sister at a retirement centre worked as a senior sister at Wentworth Hospital for 33 years and Mac, who was a telecommunications engineer and then moved to human resources, has semi-retired.
Mac, who now enjoys bowls, said he has always loved sport and used to play soccer and cricket and once served as Harlequins chairman. “And I hate all sports,” said Ross vehemently.
They celebrated their 50th anniversary with a gathering of friends and family, including their two children, on Sunday, 5 January. When asked what makes their relationship work, Ross laughed and replied: “I am a very patient person and he just does what he’s told.” To which Mac grinned and said: “That sounds about right.”
– erinh@dbn.caxton.co.za
