60 years of marriage for the Hunts
They had a big celebration party planned, but due to the new Covid-19 regulations, they had to cancel it.
St. Ledger (83) and Dorothea (80) Hunt celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on December 31, and the RECORD went to visit the couple to find out more about their love story.
They had a big celebration party planned, but due to the new Covid-19 regulations they had to cancel it.
“We at least went out for lunch on our anniversary,” they said.
The couple met in 1958 and according to St. Legder his wife was and still is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.
Falling in love
Dorothea met St. Ledger when she was 18 years old and he was 21.
“I remember I was playing the pinball machine when I saw this girl with the most beautiful long black hair. I did not notice anything else but her hair and her good-looking face – she was prettier than Marilyn Monroe. That was the last and the first time I saw her,” said St. Ledger.
But not seeing her again did not stop him from finding her. He started asking around about this beautiful girl and finally got her address.
“I went to her house, and it was love at first sight,” he said.
Their first date was celebrated at the Zoo Lake in Parkview.
Growing love
The couple got married at the Methodist Church in Rosettenville on December 31, 1960.
“Our wedding cost us five pounds,” said a laughing St. Ledger.
The Hunts have two children and four grandchildren who live in Australia. They have travelled the whole world and would like to revisit England and Australia.
A year after their marriage they moved to the then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), where they lived in Harare and ran their own engineering business for 47 years. They then moved back to South Africa on December 12, 2008, and moved into their house in Brackendowns on June 8, 2014.
“We have been living in the Alberton area for 12 years,” said Dorothea.
For better or for worse
According to St. Ledger and Dorothea, their marriage has had its ups and downs, but they kept their promise of for better or worse.
“We have never had any debt. My father told me that if you don’t have the money, you don’t need it,” he said.
They described their 60 years as loving each other more and more.
“Dorothea is a good wife, mother and she looks after me. She is a very kind and considerate person,” he said.
Dorothea said that her husband is the most amazing cook. “He is such a bundle of joy and fun and I love him deeply,” she said.
This and that
St. Ledger grew up in Johannesburg and has a brother and a sister. Dorothea grew up in Port Elizabeth and has two sisters and two brothers.
In their spare time, they love doing different things, whether together or separately. Their goal for the future is to be happy and live a healthy life.
“I am a big Liverpool fan and would love to see them play live,” said Dorothea.
“Our advice for young couples is to live debt-free and to be a team when it comes to money because money can break or make a relationship,” they said.
Dorothea also said that couples should communicate more.
“These days everyone is on their cellphones or some sort of device. They are not present in the moment and not communicating. Put down that device and talk to your partner.”
