Thomas (79) and Sarah (78) Webb recently celebrated their magical 60th wedding anniversary.<\/p>\n
The Elspark couple met in 1953, in Durban; they moved to Germiston in 2005.<\/p>
“He used to secretly pass by my house to drop love letters because he was afraid to knock at the door,” said Sarah.<\/p>\n
“We would find love letters under the door, and in all of them he was asking to come and visit me.”<\/p>
Thomas told a GCN journalist that it was love at first sight for him.<\/p>\n
“I fell in love with her the minute I saw her and made it a personal mission to get to know her, and I eventually got her address from a friend,” he said.<\/p>\n
Sarah said curiosity got the better of her.<\/p>\n
“I was obviously curious to find out who this secret admirer was, which is why I invited him to come over to visit,” she said.<\/p>\n
“He came to the house a few times and we started talking, but I wasn’t that keen.<\/p>\n
“He pursued me regardless and escorted me from work, just to spend time with me and just so I didn’t run away from him.<\/p>\n
“I finally gave in to his proposal of us being a couple and, on April 6, 1954, we decided to get married.”<\/p>\n
“No, no, she was the one who asked me to get engaged,” explained Thomas, correcting his wife.<\/p>\n
“It was a mutual agreement to get engaged and get married and, on December 4, the same year (1954) we tied the knot at a Dutch Reformed Church in Durban.”<\/p>\n
The couple has six children; Christina Venter, Thomas, Jan, Katrina, Theuns and Justin Webb, four of whom are still living.<\/p>\n
“Two of our children, Thomas and Katrina, passed on years back and, although we have healed, they will always be remembered,” said Sarah.<\/p>\n
“We are blessed to have seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, and we love all of them.”<\/p>\n
Their grandchildren are: Mariska Struwig, Andre, Quinton and Werner Venter; Thomas, Tia and Ashley Webb.<\/p>\n
Their great grandchildren are: Kayla, Hailey, Ivan, Ilza and Zandri Venter; Enrico Struwig and Ruben Webb.<\/p>\n
When asked about the secret for a long-lasting and happy marriage Thomas said: “It is a give and take, and not just take, you have to understand each other and communicate your feelings and what you want.<\/p>\n
“Try to be happy at all times, against all odds.”<\/p>\n
Sarah nodded in agreement with her husband.<\/p>\n
“Yes, it’s true, you have to love, respect and trust each other at all times,” she added.<\/p>\n
“Never, in our 60 years of marriage, have we let a big argument overlap to the next day; by sunset we make sure it is over and gone.”<\/p>\n
“We are religious and believe that you must have God in your lives together, because without God you can’t survive.”<\/p>\n
“We would like to say thank you to Nadia Venter, our granddaughter-in-law, for organising the interview with GCN for us.”<\/p>\n