Hillcrest couple’s love sparkles
Barbara and Alex McKee have been happily married for the past 60 years.
HILLCREST couple, Barbara and Alex McKee celebrated their diamond anniversary on Thursday, March 30.
The lovebirds met while on holiday at Portrush in Ireland. “In those days, that’s how we met people – by going out and socialising,” says Barbara.
Alex was born in Ireland while Barbara grew up in England and moved to Ireland with her parents.
“We were both working when we met. Alex worked at a cigarette- and cigar-manufacturing company while I worked at a fashion house.”
Even though Alex says he does not remember what truly attracted him to Barbara, she was a very beautiful lady and still is.
“It was my homemade dress,” Barbara says with a laugh.
She says, “Besides Alex’s kind nature, I loved that he had a car; there were few people with cars in those days,” she said.
Barbara and Alex dated for a year and a half and were engaged for a year before tying the knot at Church of England in 1963.
Alex worked for a newspaper in Ireland before being appointed as the sales manager of The Star Newspaper.
“That is when we moved to South Africa. I worked there for a short while before moving to the Sunday Tribune and the Daily News newspapers, also working as the sales manager.”
Alex said he and his friend had an interest in buying the Highway Mail.
“We almost owned it – we even had a contract, and I have kept it for all these years. We decided against it, and Caxton Newspapers ended up being the owner.”
The couple has resided in the Hillcrest area for the past 25 years, after spending many years in the Westville area.
“All of our three children attended Westville schools,” says the grandparents of six.
Alex says that men need to understand that the wife is always right, even if she is wrong. “That’s what has kept us happily married for 60 years,” Alex says with a smile.
Alex is a karate champ and says he introduced the sport in Ireland and ended up with black belt.
He now enjoys to read and write while Barbara spends her time doing house chores.
“Before the Covid-19 pandemic, we used to love going to the movies,” said the couple.
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