Beautiful and worthy of admiration.
This is how many regard as a rather apt description of the marriage of one Somerset West couple who recently celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary.
Like the thriving flower garden they established for their community’s viewing delight, the love between James and June Brair of Victoria Park, founded on old-school chivalry, blossomed in bold colour, one that has never dimmed and withstands all seasons.
“We are so proud of the milestone and our shared journey,” declared James, who attributes the blessing of a successful and lasting marriage to sharing in life’s joys while toughing out trials and tribulations with understanding, communication and compromise.
James and June’s love story began at a party both were invited to back in 1964. The humble boy would make his way from a farm in Bredell Road and muster up enough courage to ask the “beautiful” June from Victoria Street to a dance.
Such precious memories are usually captured against backdrops of memorable music, and one song that stands out for them is “Someone Someone” by Brian Poole and The Tremeloes. The pair became inseparable, their courtship culminating in their union on 25 September 1965. James and June marked their 57 years of wedded bliss with a weekend family celebration, a memorable braai on Saturday 24 September and special lunch on Sunday 25 September.
The Brairs are especially grateful for their offspring, Sean (56), Deirdré Gordon (53), twins Lucian Beckett and Lesley Hurling (50), and Ashley (48) and feel blessed with having eight grandchildren.
- Asked which qualities they admire most in each other, James first responded, “June’s admires her husband’s hard working nature and being good to their children and others.
These days June now lovingly attends to James, who underwent his third hip replacement on Monday 26 September, the first following injury sustained in an accident in 1972.
“Just knowing the other person is there makes all the difference,” June says. One of the couple’s favourite things is dedicating their free time to their common passion – gardening. Apart from James operating his own gardening business, Brair Gardens, June nurtures her love for gardening around their home.
After moving from their family home in Helderzicht to a smaller place in Victoria Park, they decided to share their passion with others by starting a garden with an array of flowers and plants in Klampenborg Road.
“As we have grown over the years, so has our love and marriage,” said James. “We simply hope to stay healthy and close to each other for the years we are spared.”
June further shared some words of wisdom to other couples hoping to celebrate a successful, healthy marriage: “Just stick it out, even in the darkest of hours. Communicate, fix what needs fixing and love endlessly.”
