SECUNDA – Mr Eric and Ms Trudie Whittaker bid Secunda farewell after 40 years.
The couple moved to Secunda in 1980.
Mr Whittaker worked as a procurement officer for Sasol and Ms Whittaker was involved with the cake decorating guild for 35 years.
She is also an active artist and has been painting for 28 years.
She was the chairman of the cake decorating guild for seven years on and off and more recently the vice-chairman of the Suikerbekkies in Secunda.
The couple is retiring and decided to move to a retirement home in Pretoria.
They are excited about the new chapter in their lives.
Mr Whittaker is a talented musician and has been part of Kruik Church’s worship team for many years as a pianist.
He said the piano he owns is older than the number of years he and his wife have been married.
“It is a Ripper piano, it comes from the Netherlands,” said Mr Whittaker.
He bought it second hand many years ago.
Mr Whittaker also enjoys playing the guitar.
He was also involved in the Christmas productions held annually at Kruik Church and he is looking forward to getting involved in any music productions at the retirement home.
The couple is looking forward to travelling more and going to more markets, shows and festivals in the city.
Mr Whittaker actually retired from Sasol at the end of 2018, but he was called back for contract work until now.
When he retired in 2018, the couple took a three month trip to Knysna and Cape Town.
They have also travelled to numerous foreign destinations including New Zealand, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Greece, Austria, Spain, England, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Zanzibar and Santorini.
They travelled to Santorini for their 40th wedding anniversary and walked 350km during their time their while they were exploring the island and parts of Italy and Greece.
