Half a century of love is music to Matthew’s ears
As the year ended, their life together started
MUSIC brought together and continues to seal the bond between the Bluff’s sweet couple, Jonathan and June Matthews who recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on New Years Eve, 31 December.
The golden couple, who are clearly still in love shared their story of love, music and happiness.
Although both of them lived in Clairwood they only met when the Group Areas Act relocated the Indians to Chatsworth where they still live now. They have owned a hardware business on the Bluff for the past 27 years and consider themselves Bluffites.
It all began in 1964 when young June (17) went to church with her neighbours and for the first time saw Jonathan singing in the choir. “We became friends and he was also in a band with my neighbours, so I would see him every time he came over to rehearse their music. I had strict parents so I would sneak off to their house and listen to them play. And I would notice him – he was smartly dressed, had a simple personality and was charming and very talented,” said a smiling June.
Jonathan was smitten from the beginning. “All I can think of is how breathtakingly beautiful she was, always happy and she seemed to like our music,” he chuckled.
The friendship grew and in 1965 Jonathan and his family as per the Indian culture, visited June and her family to ask for her hand in marriage. They married in 31 December, 1966. “Our wedding day was something I will never forget, it was a hot day with 500 guests at the Lorne Street Methodist Church,” said Jonathan. “When I saw her coming down the aisle with her father, all I could see was this beautiful angel adorned in a pure white sari. This was the woman of my dreams walking towards me and I couldn’t be any happier.” As the year ended, their life together started.
Fifty years, three children and three grandchildren later, the couple are still going strong. “Sure, we had our ups and downs but who hasn’t? It’s how you fix your problems together. Trust in God, be loyal to one another and show unconditional love, no matter the problem. We are human and we have faults but we don’t let them become bigger than us,” said June.
The couple celebrated their golden anniversary with their children who took them to the five-star Blythedale Palm Dune Beach Lodge on the North Coast . They were spoilt and pampered. “We want to thank our children for being the most wonderful and caring people we have ever known. And for also blessing us with three grandsons who are the apples of our eyes,” said the couple.
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