Margate couple celebrate diamond wedding anniversary
Their advice to couples contemplating marriage today is not to think short-term.
A happy marriage is the outcome of great love and faith. These are the words that David (87) and Penny (81) Snashall of Margate Retirement Village in Margate have lived by and will continue to do so as they celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary today (February 4).
Their journey as a couple started when they met by chance at a dance in Welkom.
“In those days, real live bands provided the music. Both of us had attended the dance as partners to other people. We were strongly attracted to each other, but it was not love at first sight,” recalled David.
Nevertheless, love endured and they spent most of their married lives on the mines in Welkom, Carletonville, Virginia, Rustenburg and Evander.
Career-wise, Penny graduated from the typing pool to personal assistant to senior executive, while David moved from personnel trainer to human resources manager.
“At the time, human resources managers were slowly establishing themselves in a conservative right wing industry and we were sent in in a change agent role as the grizzled, authoritarian general managers lacked the capacity to cope as the unions gathered strength,” said David.
The couple also spent a few years in commerce and industry in Johannesburg in the ’70s.
The Snashalls have lived on the South Coast since 1994 – at first in Uvongo – before they moved to Margate Retirement Village eight years ago.
David served at Ugu District Council and Hibiscus Coast Municipality as a councillor for 15 years.
“Penny was the local editor of my frequent letters to the local, provincial and national newspapers. She was also a poster erector of note.”
The couple also presented the first Alpha courses for the local Anglican Church as well as the Layman’s Mission; served on the church council and sang in the church choir.
They attribute their long and happy marriage to putting each other above all others.
“We have had arguments over the years but we always reached consensus about the really important things like bringing up children, changing jobs or moving house, in a bubble of love,” said David.
“When Penny and I got married at the Methodist Church in Welkom, the Anglican Church had ex-communicated us because Penny was a divorcee with two children, but our love was so great that the children were as much part of me as part of her,” he recalled.
As both of them love music, they remembered the great operas they witnessed with grand orchestras and splendid voices.
“In the days before television, we joined dramatic societies and acted in Shakespeare, comedies and thrillers and sang principal roles in folk opera like ‘Oklahoma’ and ‘Annie Get Your Gun’.
Their advice to couples contemplating marriage today is not to think short-term.
“Map out your life for the years to come. Where will you live? When will you have children? Are you in the right job? What can you do about it? Do you continue to improve yourself for a full role in the fourth industrial revolution?” said David.
Sadly, the Snashall’s eldest daughter, Carol died some years ago.
She was an English and Afrikaans teacher and in most of her matric classes the pass rate was a 100 percent with many distinctions.
Their younger daughter, Jennifer and husband Vaughn live in Queensland, Australia.
Jennifer is a quilter and embroider of note with three books published in the USA and available worldwide.
The Australian government has also appointed her as a mobile teacher in rural areas.
Son, Jonathan and his partner, Georgie live in Melbourne, Australia.
Jonathan is a wine maker and owner of a wine tourism company. In an industry ravaged by Covid-19 in Australia, he has found employment in a prominent liquor and restaurant company.
David and Penny have eight grandchildren, some of whom are still in South Africa, and three great-grandchildren in Australia.
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