Lisa Isaacs
“I OWE all that I am to you.” Those were the loving words from Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu yesterday to his wife Leah, who has stood by his side for 60 years.
The couple celebrated their 60th anniversary by renewing their vows at a packed St George’s Cathedral.
“I want to thank my dear family, our family,” Tutu said to Leah as the ceremony concluded. “Thank you very much, because I would not be anywhere near what God made me, without you. I owe all that I am to you and God was very good to give you to me,” he said as he came over to Leah and the two hugged each other tightly.
The couple met at college, where Leah was a teacher, and were married on July 2, 1955.
Their daughter, the Rev Mpho Tutu, led her parents as they once again recited their vows. “We have come together in the presence of God to give thanks for the marriage of Desmond and Leah – mom and dad – and to ask God’s blessing upon it as they continue their married life together,” she said.
“God’s blessing enables husband and wife to love and support one another in good times and bad.
“Desmond and Leah… we are glad to join with you in this celebration of 60 years of marriage, to witness the renewal of your vows, to pray with you and wish you joy as you continue your life together.”
Among those in attendance was arms deal activist Terry Crawford-Browne, whose wife Lavinia was Tutu’s personal assistant for 22 years. He said Tutu played a significant role in ensuring the country averted civil war as the apartheid regime fell.
“The expectation was that we were going to have a blood bath, and thank God we averted that, and so much of that is due to how he (Tutu) pushed and pulled…” he said.
A second celebration of the wedding anniversary and renewal of vows Eucharist (communion) service will be held tomorrow at the Holy Cross Anglican church in Soweto.