Worthing couple celebrate 65th wedding anniversary

The couple come from Dewsbury in Yorkshire, where they were married on September 30, 1950.

Gerry worked for Slazenger, a British sporting goods manufacturer, and in 1964, he was asked to go to work at the company’s base in South Africa.

The couple went out with their two children, eldest son David, who was 14 at the time, and Peter. They had a third son, Robert, while out there and both Peter and Robert still live in South Africa.

Doreen worked in management accounts for a number of years, before setting up an aftercare service at Winston Park Primary School in Durban.

“My friend and I started the aftercare service for children because most mothers were working and the children could not go home at home-time,” she said.

“Schools in South Africa finish at 2pm because of the heat but work goes on to 5pm or 6pm, like most places, so there was a gap. It was really good and we did the homework with the children.”

Gerry and Doreen ended up living in South Africa for 30 years. They followed David back to England in 2008, a few years after Dunlop took over the company.

They chose Oakland Court, in Gratwicke Road, Worthing, because they wanted to live on the south coast and David wanted them to live within easy reach of London.

Doreen explained: “Every time we came on holiday from South Africa, we stayed in Brighton and when we were looking for houses, we wanted the south coast. My eldest son lives in London and he said we must be within an hour of London, on a direct route.”

The couple celebrated their anniversary with friends at Oakland Court and had a party last Wednesday which coincided with a Macmillan coffee morning.

“We have had an excellent life,” said Doreen. “It was the best time.”

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