Bill and Dot, together forever
Bill and Dot du Plessis celebrate 50 years of wedded bliss this week.
FORMER member of the Rhodesian Air Force, Bill du Plessis, stole his wife’s heart with a single song nearly 51 years ago. Now, the Inchanga residents are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
Bill and Dot du Plessis met in 1963 when a friend of Bill was dating Dot’s neighbour. Dot, who had a boyfriend at the time, became good friends with Bill, but the romance didn’t blossom until Bill, who was part of a band, sang Put a ring on my finger at a social event.
“I can’t remember who sang the orignial song, but I remember that I knew then and there that Dot was the one. We started dating and later that year I asked her hand in marriage,” Bill said.
A year later the air force technician and his wife walked down the aisle on 7 November at a chapel in Gwela, Rhodesia. They honeymooned at the Black Mountain Inn in a town called Nyanga, also in the then Rhodesia.
For Bill, his marriage to Dot has been a pleasant one: “We’ve obviously had our arguments here and there, but Dot is my life companion. We do everything together,” he said.
Dot concurred with Bill.
“He’s been a fantastic husband and very hard working. He’s always ready to help. I can never live without him,” she said.
The couple said they will celebrate their anniversary with family at their nephew’s restaurant in Westville, as well as a lunch with friends from their retirement village.
