He married his 19-year-old sweetheart Mary (nee Kay) on his 21st birthday, November 30, 1953.
''It was a big weekend,'' he said.
The couple celebrated 60 years of marriage, and Mr Hurring's 81st birthday, at the weekend.
Mrs Hurring (79) said they were both part of the Alhambra Rugby Club crowd - he played for the club in the early 1950s - and met through social activities. She was actually going out with Mr Hurring's friend.
''I said to her she should give me a try,'' Mr Hurring said.
''I tried to pass him on to the other girls, but that didn't work,'' Mrs Hurring said.
When young love won through, Mrs Hurring, then 17, moved in with Mr Hurring's family, sharing a room with his sister.
''We weren't allowed to go into each other's rooms, and we had to be home by 11pm,'' she said.
The couple had six children, and now have 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren to fill in their time.
They lived in Dunedin during their working lives, and retired to Mosgiel.
Mr Hurring once received some local fame for taking walks along Hagart Alexander Dr with his white pet duck Susquash (Sussie), a popular bird with the children until it died in 2006.
Mrs Hurring said the secret to 60 years of marriage was coping with all the ups and downs marriage brought.
She and her husband could still have a laugh together, and they both lived for their family, she said.
The pair celebrated with a small surprise gathering, organised by their children, on Saturday.
