Mosgiel couple Jim and Betty Downes celebrate 60 years of
marriage at their Mosgiel retirement home. Photo by Allison
Rudd.
It was love at first sight when 17-year-old Betty Kitto
and 19-year-old Jim Downes met at a dance in St Kilda in 1947.
She thought he looked nice. He thought she was "a very
presentable, pretty woman" who sparkled.
Mr and Mrs Downes, celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary
yesterday, laughed as they remembered that night.
"He came over to where I was sitting with two of my
girlfriends. I thought 'I hope it's me he is going to ask to
dance', and it was. I was happy," Mrs Downes (82) said.
There was an initial complication to their courtship - Betty
lived in Roslyn and Jim in St Kilda. Mr Downes (84) solved
that by "walking hundreds of miles" to visit her before
upgrading to a motorcycle.
They courted for four and a-half years before marrying at St
John's Anglican Church, in Roslyn.
Both remember their wedding day as a happy occasion. Mrs
Downes, who ran a small sewing business, made her own wedding
dress after a dressmaker told her the corded satin fabric she
had chosen was too difficult to work with. She also made
dresses for her two bridesmaids and another for Mr Downes'
mother.
The wedding ceremony was at 6pm. With most of the day to fill
in, Mr Downes and some of his friends went to watch Otago
play cricket at Carisbrook.
"We left about 4pm, went home to where I was living in
Northeast Valley to get changed, then went to the church. I
was pretty nervous, but right on cue Betty walked in the
door," Mr Downes recalled.
The couple bought a section in Mosgiel while still engaged
and had a home built, moving into it when it was completed a
few months after their marriage.
They have been immersed in Mosgiel ever since, participating
in activities as diverse as school committees, amateur
dramatics, Lions, bowls and cubs and sharing an interest in
animals and gardening. Mr Downes was a Mosgiel Borough
councillor for 27 years and had one term as a Dunedin City
councillor, and Mrs Downes was on the Mosgiel Taieri
Community Board for a time.
Mrs Downes said while they were both strong-minded people who
had had some "beaut rows" over the years, they had always on
got well and their 60 years together had flown by.
Teamwork and respecting and supporting each other were the
secrets to getting along, she said.
"My advice would be to never let an argument or difference of
opinion carry on. Reach some sort of agreement. And respect
each other's opinions, needs and wants."
Mr Downes said he "had listened to Bet and it was all true. I
couldn't add anything except share, share, share".
"You're always listening to me. You're probably sick of it
after all this time," Mrs Downes replied with a laugh.
The couple have two children, Graeme and Mary-Jane, and three
grandchildren. They will celebrate their anniversary later
this month with a party expected to be attended by more than
50 family and friends.
- allison.rudd@odt.co.nz
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