Ruimsig couple celebrate 61 years of love, life and longevity

The fire of youthful romance may burn red but true love is an ever-glowing ember.

After a session on the tennis courts, the group of athletes would retreat to one of their houses for recouperation, refreshments and something sweet. There, a 16-year-old Bertha Erasmus would lay her eyes on a striking gentleman in uniform. Dressed in his Air Force formals, Hugo Barkhuysen would charm his way into Bertha’s heart, even stealing a kiss on their first meeting.

Bertha relayed how that night she went home and told her parents that she had met her future husband. Taking their daughter seriously, Hugo was invited to their house to test if it was the uniform or the man that piqued Bertha’s interest, Hugo passing the test with flying colours. Using his affiliation to Swartkops Air Base, Hugo punctuated his courtship of Bertha by dropping a love letter over Bertha’s house from an Tiger Moth biplane, writing his love in the sky.

Three years after their meeting at the tennis group, Hugo and Bertha would seal their union with a ceremony in Krugersdorp on June 24 1961. The couple recall Dominee Papp as the man who ordained their 61 year marriage, with the unity and friendship of their church being a cornerstone of their life together. Now 86 and 80, Hugo and Bertha have shared a lifetime of joy with their greatest blessing received being their two daughters, Belinda and Charmaine.

Every marriage has a special ingredient but the fundamentals are always rock solid. Reminding those just beginning their journeys together, Bertha advised, “Be friends first and stay friends. Everything is possible with your best friend by your side. No hurt too harsh, no joy too short. That, together with a joint belief and an abiding love for Christ, is all you need”.