?He?s my old blue eyes,? she said. Fifty years on the Petone couple have just celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with family and friends and are as much as love today as they were back in 1956.
Petone couple David and Betty McLean celebrated their golden wedding anniversary recently. Their message to other couples - look after one another. By Chrys Ayley They met at a stag party and never looked back. Betty Higgins was instantly attracted to Dave McLean but it was his bright blue eyes surrounded by great big black eye lashes that she always found most attractive. ?He?s my old blue eyes,? she said. Fifty years on the Petone couple have just celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with family and friends and are as much as love today as they were back in 1956. The couple?s two children, Edwin and Robert and their wives Tracey and Kim, organised an afternoon function at the Fireman?s Arms. Family and friends joined them to help celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. ?We were thoroughly spoiled,? Mrs Mclean said. The couple first walked down the aisle on November 1, 1958 at Trinity Congregational Church in Alicetown following a short engagement. Mrs Mclean grew up in the east end (of Jackson Street) and Mr Mclean grew up around the corner. After their stag party meeting Dave McLean kept hanging around Betty Higgins and their love affair ?just sort of grew?. He was very persistent, Mrs McLean said. Mr Mclean was 26 and Mrs Mclean 22 when they first walked down the aisle. After 50 happy years Mrs Mclean says marriage is like growing up. ?You go through stages, have children and get sick but around about 40 years of marriage you realise the only way for a successful marriage is to have unconditional love.? They both agree that ?give and take? is vital but they also say they turn a blind eye to their individual ?stuff ups?. If you look after each other you stay together, Mr Mclean said. They both love Petone and spent 46 years living in Oriental Street before their move to their King Street home four years ago. Throughout those years they have taken an active part in the community, helping the children with their sports, playing bowls and serving on various committees. The couple are keen and active members of the Petone Central Bowling Club and play socially two or three times a week when the weather is right. They enjoy travelling overseas and are thinking of another trip ? possibly a second honeymoon. Having reached 50 years of life together and shared their joy with family and friends the couple are ?still over the moon?. Photo captions Betty, 72, and Dave Mclean, 76, say the key to a happy married life is unconditional love. Betty and Dave treasure their wedding album which contains the signatures of all their guests, photographs and newspaper clippings.
