Couple buys one-way ticket to love
Garth and Lorna Holland of Kloof celebrate their 50th anniversary on Saturday 28 December.
FOR Lorna and Garth Holland, love was found in the unlikeliest of places, when he purchased a bus ticket for her 51 years ago.
They both resided in the same private hotel in Johannesburg in 1962. One morning, by chance they caught the same bus. He offered to pay her fares, and a close friendship bloomed, but it was not until their hotel’s Christmas party, that they clicked as a couple.
They courted for six months before getting engaged and six months after that, they tied the knot at the Anglican Cathedral in Johannesburg on 28 December 1963.
After a short while, the couple moved to Umhlanga Rocks in 1964, where their children, Gary, Bryan and Brenda (twins) and Wendy were born and grew up.
Twenty-five years later, in 1989, they moved to Durban North, then to Umgeni Park, and finally settled in Kloof in 2007.
“Our children have all been marvelous to us. They are always there when we need them and we feel blessed to have such loving children and six fantastic grandchildren,” said Lorna.
They believe the secret to their lasting relationship is being able to love each other every day and to compromise when necessary.
“In our 50 years of marriage, we have been very lucky. We worked hard and believe we raised our children well. We’ve always had a loving family,” said Garth.
Garth said he fell in love with Lorna’s incredible good looks and apart from her hair growing grey, she still has a vivacious face and he loves her still as the first day he met her.
“Garth has always been there for me. From the first day we met, he paid my bus fares every day in Johannesburg, and he still takes such good care of me,” said Lorna.
Their advice to other couples is to learn to give and take.
The couple are looking forward to their golden jubilee, which is a special dinner with family at Olive and Oil in Hillcrest.