If music be the food of love, play on. And they have played on – for 60 years now.
Leslie and Dorothy Gordon’s mutual love for music and for each other have seen this remarkable local couple last week celebrate their Diamond Wedding Anniversary.
Leslie is now 86 although he looks more like 66 while Dorothy is an immaculate 78.
Dorothy hails from London while Leslie is a Capetonian. It was while both were studying music in London that they met. Dorothy Roberts made sure Leslie was smitten and they were married in St Gabriel’s Church, Westminster, on June 15 1957.
The newly-weds settled in Cape Town six months later where they pursued their musical careers, teaching at various schools, with Leslie also doing a spell at a school in Grahamstown. The Gordons have two sons, Doug (who lives in Dundee) and Stuart in Johannesburg. They are also proud grandparents to three and even have a great granddaughter!
Hundreds of children have passed through their skilled hands on the road to learning piano and/or violin. It is a passion they have followed since moving to Dundee 16 years ago and they still teach music to local children.
“We are very settled in Dundee and have made many friends,” said Leslie. But after 60 years are they giving away any secrets to their happiness?
“Keep laughing. Do not take life so seriously. Wipe away those long faces,” Dorothy told the Courier. A finely honed musician, Dorothy has composed many originals pieces some of which have had airtime on SABC. They enjoy good health and plan to play on for the years ahead.