‘It’s never too late to fall in love’

Durban12022016Couple from Flame Lily.Picture;Marilyn Bernard

Durban12022016Couple from Flame Lily.Picture;Marilyn Bernard

Published Feb 14, 2016

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Durban - It’s never too late to fall in love. Well, that was certainly the case for Clifford, 92, and Pam Foster, 85, who fell head over heels in love after a quiz night at the Flame Lily Retirement Village in Queensburgh two years ago.

He was widowed and she was divorced. They were both living in the retirement village with the hope of making new friends.

A week after the quiz, the World War II veteran and his wife-to-be bumped into each other for the second time outside the bathrooms.

“It was so funny,” Pam said. “At one point we could barely say a word to each other, and the next time we met we could not stop talking. We laughed and laughed until our stomachs hurt. I found him incredibly handsome, but I would never admit it.”

Clifford said Pam was “a chase”.

“She played hard to get at first. I saw her as a good prospect. As the saying goes, ‘when the bugle sounds, you’ve got to answer the call’. I knew this was someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.”

The pair had a brief courtship before getting hitched in May last year.

The wedding was an intimate ceremony at the retirement village with close friends and family. He wore his navy suit with a brown striped tie, while she wore a blue and white floral dress.

The chapel was filled with song and dance as the guests celebrated the union.

The pair said they never imagined finding love again.

“We came here to socialise and become friends with people our age. It seems Cupid had other ideas for us. It feels weird being married, but we would not want it any other way,” said Pam.

“We love being together. I think the only time we are apart is when he watches his sport and I watch my soapies. He despises them,” she joked.

The couple don’t have any special Valentine’s Day plans, but will join other pensioners in a special party.

Clifford has six children and 13 grandchildren, while Pam has three children and eight grandchildren.

Their remarrying has never been an issue for the children. “They have been very supportive and were all there at every stage of our relationship. We are like one big happy family.”

Their advice for other older couples afraid to start new relationships is to take the plunge.

“Love happens in strange ways and is unavoidable. If you fall in love, do not hold back. You only live once and your happiness comes first. It is not nice being alone.

“Always remember to have faith in God. A relationship built on a strong spiritual foundation can withstand anything. It is also important to respect each other. There is no point in being angry with each other for trivial issues,” said Pam.

The loving couple are a shining example of how “age is just a number when love is in the equation”.

Sunday Tribune

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