Sense of humour keeps 50 years of marriage strong

A GOOD sense of humour, mutual trust and solid family values have been instrumental in ensuring a happy marriage for Tony and Manuela McGregor as they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on 2 October.

The special occasion was marked with a close family get-together on the North Coast where the couple could relax and enjoy the company of their loved ones.

The couple met in Swaziland in October 1963 where they both moved for work. Tony is from Durban and Manuela, who is of Portuguese origin, from Mozambique. They were married two years later in 1965.

They spent six years in Swaziland before settling in Johannesburg for 20 years. In 1994 they moved to Gillitts and have been in Shongweni for the past five years.

They are the proud parents of two sons, Darryl and Roger, and have four grandchildren.

Tony said that one of the most important aspects of their good marriage, besides a sense of humour, was to never go to sleep on a fight and the fact that they both come from loving families.

“We both had the example of having parents who enjoyed long marriages of 46 years and over 40 years respectively, and despite different cultures we were both brought up with the same values.”

Manuela added that the couple are free to pursue their own interests, such as Tony playing golf and in his younger days, cricket, tennis and rugby, and she enjoys her art and sewing, but they also spend a lot of time together and have lots in common, such as their love of game reserves, walking, staying fit and spending time with their family at their cottage at Hole in the Wall in the Transkei.

Their relaxed, easy-going rapport with one another and constant joking around are evidence of a couple that are still deeply in love 50 years later.