LORAINE (81) and Hammy van Brandenburg (82) of Amanzimtoti recently celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

Loraine’s uncle owned a bakery in Roodepoort that was looking for bakers and confectioners, and Hammy’s father immigrated from Holland in 1954 to start work. As part of the family tradition, Hammy also worked in the bakery with his father which is ultimately how the couple met when they were teenagers.

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“I fell in love with her a few weeks after meeting. I can’t explain what it was; I just knew she was the one,” he said.

The pair got engaged after five years before tying the knot on January 18, 1964, at a Catholic Church in Roodepoort.

They share four children, one of which passed away a few years ago, as well as six grandchildren.

They lived in Swaziland for many years, where Hammy’s job afforded them the opportunity to travel extensively, before they moved to Amanzimtoti in 1985. He said he is most known in the community as the owner of Warner Beach Bottle Store, which he had for 25 years.

The couple said that through the years, their love just continued to grow stronger. “The key to a long-lasting marriage is patience and understanding,” said Hammy.

Fitness and sport has also always been a part of their life; from 1976 to 2005, he completed nine Comrades Marathons.

The couple enjoy spending time together and often play a game of Rummikub.

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