English love finds a home in Edenvale
Pat said since living in SA, the couple has always lived in Edenvale. Their first home was in Harmelia.
Isandovale residents Terry (82) and Pat (81) Bright marked 60 years of love and marriage by celebrating their diamond anniversary.
The couple met at a church youth club in Plymouth England and were married at the same church on April 8, 1961.
Pat’s uncle played the organ for the service and the choir, which Pat was a member of, sang the hymns.
After the service, the church’s Brownie Pack, which Pat was the Brown owl for, formed a guard of honour outside the church.
Looking back on their wedding day the couple said the day was an intimate affair with 60 guests.
“The sit-down meal cost 10 shillings and sixpence per head R1.05 in those days.”
Pat said Terry’s mother was a dressmaker and made the dresses for her and the four bridesmaids.
In February 1969, the couple decided to emigrate to SA with their two-year-old son and two Persian cats.
Pat said she and Terry originally considered moving to Australia as there were not a lot of opportunities in England for the couple;
however, their plans changed after her parents visited her brother in SA.
She said besides the opportunities for the couple something else, which attracted them to SA, was the weather.
After travelling to Cape Town with a boat the Brights set off on a 33-hour journey to Johannesburg with a train.
Pat said since living in SA the couple has always lived in Edenvale. Their first home was in Harmelia.
“There were no tar roads, no postal service and no public transport system compared to England’s at the time so if I wanted to go somewhere, I had to push walk and push my son in the pushcart,” said Pat.
Their three children and three grandchildren attended Hurlyvale Primary School. Their son joined the school the year it opened and continued to Edenglen High School when it opened its doors.
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Pat said their two daughters also went to Edenglen High.
“I remember when the school first opened, it was pouring with rain and there was mud all over the place but there stood the principal in the rain with his umbrella greeting every learner,” said Terry.
Their eldest granddaughter now teaches at Hurlyvale Primary School.
Although Terry and Pat are retired, Terry is a carpenter and joiner by trade while Pat worked for SAB breweries in the payroll department.
“Because I worked for SAB and Terry was my husband he would often design and build bars for various SAB facilities,” said Pat.
They keep themselves busy by supporting the Edenvale Lioness Club by making wooden toys, and clothes, which are donated to children in need.
To make their anniversary extra special, the couple received a personalised letter from Queen Elizabeth II congratulating and wishing them well.
Pat explained that it is a special tradition for British nationals to celebrate specific anniversaries and birthdays.
Advising younger couples Terry kept it short and sweet giving the same advice his great aunt and uncle gave him.
“Pull together.”
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