It was love at first sight for Martin and Sarah Cilliers, of Parklands, who will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary tomorrow, Thursday February 29.
It was the leap year of 1960, and Martin recalls nursing a beer at a bar in Johannesburg when he spotted two girls walking past outside. He left the beer on the counter (he remembers there was still more than half of it left) and rushed out the door to see where they were headed.
One of them had long blonde hair running down her back. It was Sarah. Martin knew she was “the one”.
The girls were on their way to see a movie, and Martin suggested that he pay for the tickets and join them.
“At first, we were hesitant but then we agreed because in those days things were much safer,” says Sarah.
When the movie ended, Martin told Sarah he wanted to visit her, and she said, “Yes sure, if my dad allows you to.”
The thought of meeting Sarah’s father didn’t deter Martin, who says he was determined to go for “what his heart wanted”.
The couple dated for four years and tied the knot in the leap year of 1964.
Martin still remembers how Sarah’s long hair blew out of the window of the Volkswagen Beetle he owned at the time.
“We are still in love as we were back then, and not much has changed. Although we have our normal quarrels, like anyone else. I still feel that she is the best thing that God has ever created.
“Your partner will never be the same as you. There are things that women can do and things that men can do.”
Sarah says a woman needs to carry herself well and couples should have mutual respect and love for each other.
The weather on the couple’s wedding day was “terrible” with heavy rain and thunderstorms, but it was the most exciting day of their lives, say Martin and Sarah.
They never had a honeymoon because Martin couldn’t get time off from work, but when they left the reception they stopped for a milkshake on the way home.
Sarah says she hoped to “blow Martin away” on her wedding day with a beehive hairstyle, but her hairstylist who could pull it off wasn’t unavailable, but it didn’t matter, she adds, because after 60 years, he still loves her with all her imperfections.
The couple say young couples should marry for the right reasons and find the right person to be their “forever partner”.
“I have never laid eyes on any other women,” says Martin. “We have never had a disagreement about another female or male wanting to get involved. It has always been us and will always be us because I cannot see myself in this universe without her.”
As they got up to show Tabletalk their wedding pictures, the couple kissed. “We still kiss each other every day, and, most importantly, we pray for each other,” says Sarah.
They have never had any children, and say it was “God’s will” that they have only got each other.
The couple relocated to Cape Town 14 years ago to be as close to the beach as possible. They say they still go on dates and hold hands when they are walking together.
The Cilliers say they will celebrate their diamond anniversary at home with a dinner and with their little Yorkshire terrier, Zoe.
