Elaine was a young woman working in a Westport dairy in the 1950s when Colin walked in off the street, in search of a scoop of ice cream.
“Surprising what an ice cream can do,” 82-year-old Elaine laughs, from their home in Motueka almost seven decades later.
The Wilsons have recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary, surrounded by friends and family, just as they were all those years ago when they stood side by side in the Westport Presbyterian Church and promised to spend their lives together.
“We’ve had a good innings, a very good innings,” Elaine says with satisfaction.
The couple moved to Motueka about 50 years ago, and Colin, now 88, used to work in the “P and T”, or the post and telegraph office. They have four children, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and they look back on a life that was not without its challenges.
Colin says that when they were younger, they struggled like young people today, and he worked two jobs, “just to push the wolf from the door”, Elaine explains.
“I think we’ve been very lucky – 65 years is a great achievement.”
Elaine is a proud royalist, and a card from London featuring King Charles and Queen Camilla sits in pride of place on a side table. The couple was also chuffed to receive congratulatory cards from Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro and Minister for Seniors Casey Costello, as well as Tasman mayor Tim King.
Elaine and Colin say that the building blocks for sustaining their relationship have been to look after each other, respect each other and help each other – especially in their older years, Elaine says, as “the old bones don’t work like they used to”.
The couple reckon they don’t have many vices – they don’t smoke and only occasionally partake in a glass of wine. They are, however, still partial to an ice cream – although nowadays, it is Colin’s job to scoop.
