Roy Clarke first met his sweetheart Lois, in Dannevirke in 1950.
The pair both needed a partner for a Scottish ball being held at the Wellington Town Hall, when a mutual friend put them in contact.
They went together, had a great time and were firm friends. That friendship lasted 65 years with the couple now being happily married for 60 years today.
Lois Clarke said her beau looked like a nice guy when they first met. They had a mutual interest in music and dances.
"We both liked dancing. One dance (they went to) I had recently come from Auckland, I dressed in a sequined ball gown and slipped into high-heeled shoes. Roy donned his suit and tie and off we went. But when we stood at the door and observed the scene most were dressed in jeans, socks and sandshoes with cardigans. We were going to look ridiculous there so we quickly returned to our digs hoping not to be seen."
Mr Clarke did not own a car so had to double his wife on his bicycle during their courtship, she said.
"I had to sit on the bar of the bike to go back to the hospital (where she worked as a charge nurse).
"I had to go all through the town and up to the hospital so he must have been keen to double back me on his bike after the dances and things."
They were aged 17 and 22 when they first met. They courted for five years before getting married on March 19, 1955.
Mr Clarke said he had no worries about his future wife saying no to his proposal.
Their first daughter, Robyn, was born in 1956 and they had two more children, Dianne and Jan. Mrs Clarke said their children were the greatest achievements of their lives and marriage.
Their youngest child, Jan, was born blind, Mrs Clarke said.
"She took such a long time to come into the world ... she didn't see at all when she was born."
The family was told Jan would not have sight but Mrs Clarke refused to believe it.
"I'm not accepting what that specialist said, I want you to find ... some doctor who will help my child. I don't care where it is, we will go there."
The family was referred to a doctor in Wellington where Jan was operated on twice.
"It must have cost a lot but who cared, this child had to see and she did."
Jan went on to complete two degrees " in music and law. Their second daughter, Dianne, also has two degrees and is social worker at Waikato Hospital.
Robyn, their eldest, also had a mind of her own, she said.
"In those days it was fashionable for mother and daughter to wear the same style, frills and bows. One Sunday, when we were noticeably dressed alike for church, near the end of the service we were asked to observe a silent time to pray and suddenly, in the silence which was suppose to follow, Robyn said, "Mum, we have stood up four times, knelt down four times, sung four songs I don't even know. When are we going home?"
Ironically, years later it was this daughter who was to do missionary work with Youth with a Mission, she said.
Although, Mrs Clarke said, others thought more of their milestone than they did, she acknowledged their lifetime together.
"When you get older you need each other. I feel like I need him more than I used to. I used to be more independent, I worked for 40 odd years and was independent in that way.
"I feel like I have been very lucky (to have him)."
The success of their marriage came down to love, loyalty, patience, devotion and give-and-take, Mr Clarke said.