The secret to 64 years of marriage

David, 86, and Violet Adams, 83, share their secrets - including living in sin to see if your partnership lasts.

Cape Town - They’ve been married for 64 wonderful years, and now David, 86, and his wife Violet Adams, 83, have revealed their secret to a happy union.

On Sunday, the couple celebrated more than six decades of marriage.

David and Violet, from Rocklands in Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town, have three sons, fourteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

The couple tied the knot on November 29, 1951, after meeting at the Dutch-Reformed church in Tokai.

They won’t divulge much of their past, with David only saying that they were introduced to each other by his dad.

David says: “My father told me there is a girl for you at the Sunday school. It’s such a long story... and here we are, 64 years later.”

Despite their many years together, Violet cautions young people to “think twice” before getting hitched, even if that means “living in sin” for a while.

Violet says: “First live together and see if the partnership works. Life is different today.”

The couple reckons devotion, loyalty and friendship are the main ingredients to a happy marriage.

“Partnership is important when you get married,” says Violet, who still cooks and cleans for her man.

“Don’t bring past hardships into your marriage, don’t enter into community of property... tomorrow the man leaves you then you have nothing. “When you buy a car, put your name on it. Women today are more independent, you have a man who wants to live off you and out of your pocket.”

Meanwhile, David keeps himself busy in the garden. He has converted their backyard into a mini greenhouse, where red tomatoes hang among the grapevines.

David says: “I worked for City Parks and Forestry for 36 years, how can I not do the same here at my home?”

Violet worked as a clerk at Porter School in Tokai for 28 years.

She also has some pearls of wisdom for women: “Don’t keep everything bottled up, speak and live and move on with life. Wake up and be alive and enjoy life, don’t be so dry.”

The couple is planning a big celebration with family and friends soon.

Daily Voice