Newspaper Article 2003 – Worth the wait in diamonds

Waiting until she was 21 to marry and waiting for him to come home from war has proved well worth it for Isa.

Worth the wait in diamonds

JAMIE SHANLEY

Charlie and Isa Anderton of Waipukurau were married at St Mary’s Anglican church in Waipukurau on June 12, 1943 and have lived in Central Hawke’s Bay all their lives.

They will be celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary on Saturday with a small group of family and friends at the Waipukurau Club.

Charlie and Isa first met at one of the many dances held at Raukawa.

Even though they were young, in love and eager to marry, Isa thought it best to wait until she was 21.

“I wanted to keep my mother happy,” she laughed.

Despite the events of World War 2, which were happening at the time, their relationship remained strong.

Even when Charlie left for war, he did anything he could for Isa, including throwing a stamped addressed envelope for Isa out the window of a train at Palmerston North Railway Station when he departed for war, which was against security regulations.

“Some kind person posted it and so Isa was informed,” he said.

Isa, who was a traffic clerk in the airforce at that stage, awaited Charlie’s return from war.

He returned two years later, with a Military Medal for gallantry and they continued with the raising of their family. (Charlie and Isa’s son Ross, was born shortly after Charlie left for war).

They now have two sons; Neil and Ross, daughter Judy and four grandchildren.

Charlie and Isa both keep busy with their independent interests. Charlie was a dedicated dog trialist and is involved with many clubs in Central Hawke’s Bay. He also completed a computer course, which came in handy for their anniversary invitations.

Isa is a keen golfer, and enjoys a social game of Mah Jong or Bridge, and they both have an enormous flower garden to maintain.

“We love going to the races together,” Isa said. “And we both keep fit and watch what we eat.”

Daughter Judy says Charlie and Isa’s relationship is “quite amazing”.

“Their relationship is very strong and they are still, in my view, as fit as they were at 73 and 71 or even 63 and 61. They are very active.”

Charlie and Isa say the secret to their 60 years of marriage is simply their great companionship.

“Yes, we get on pretty well really,” Isa said.

Photo caption –
HAPPY DAYS: Waipukurau couple, Charlie and Isa Anderton, with their diamond wedding anniversary cake. The miniature vase on the cake was used 60 years ago at their wedding.
HBTODAY PICTURE: SARAH BICKNELL