Luck, work keys to couple’s happiness, long marriage
Like yesterday . . . Former Roxburgh East couple Bryan and Dianne King, now of Cromwell, with the photographs taken on their wedding day 60 years ago.
BEING lucky and working at marriage were the keys to being happy, according to a couple celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary.
Bryan and Dianne King were married in Roxburgh on June 1, 1963. It was a different era altogether and the Kings have adjusted and adapted while maintaining their fundamental belief in the value of family and community. The 60th celebrations will take place this weekend.
Mrs King’s father JR Waigth was a former mayor of Roxburgh. She went to St Philomena’s College, in Dunedin, for her secondary education and returned to Roxburgh an accomplished shorthand typist.
Mr King was ‘‘an import’’ moving to Dumbarton when his father Alf, a women’s tailor, bought land in 1950 and began growing apples.
Roxburgh was a more lively place then and there was a dance every Saturday night, Mr King said.
A flagon and a packet of cigarettes were inexpensive, he said.
Mrs King would go to the dance after working at the Roxburgh picture theatre. She and her sisters, like all their friends, made their own clothes.
‘‘We would go to Laloli’s [drapery] for a Simplicity pattern,’’ she said.
There were also balls and it was common for their parents to be there too.
The Kings lived on their orchard in Roxburgh East before moving to Alexandra in 1990. They had five sons and one daughter. Tragically their second son Mathew died, in 1967, at three weeks from a congenital heart condition.
Devoted to their community the Kings were involved in many groups. Like his father Mr King was involved in the Teviot Fruitgrowers. He was a Paul Harris fellow in Rotary, as was their son Derek.
At some point he had been chairman or secretary of every group except the Masonic Lodge, he said.
Mrs King was secretary of groups from playcentre to the parish council.
‘‘It was natural, it’s what our parents did,’’ Mr King said.
While living in Roxburgh, Mrs King began writing occasionally for Central Otago News and Otago Daily Times. When they moved to Alexandra she worked full time for the newspapers. She also wrote several books, including a history of Teviot Valley families Our Memories, Our Stories
The Kings will celebrate their anniversary today with sons Derek, Gareth, Andrew and Alistair and daughter MaryCarmel along with their families which include 14 grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.