Our People

Fateful meeting under clock tower

• Howick and Pakuranga Times

A LOVE of the outdoors was the spark that ignited a romance for Valerie and Brian Sowerby spanning more than 50 years.

MAKING LOVE LAST: Brian and Valerie Sowerby celebrate 50 years of marriage. Times photo Wayne Martin.

The Howick couple celebrate their golden wedding on Saturday but the memory of their chance meeting under the University of Auckland clock tower 53 years ago  is still fresh.

Brian says their first meeting, “was a formal introduction,” a hand-shake which saw them become members of a trekking club, once climbing with well known Auckland geologist Les Kermode.

Not one for the over-hyped love at first sight stuff, Valerie says: “We took our time in those days and breaking-in boots on Rangitoto was how we got to know each other.”

 They eventually got married married in the old Devonport Methodist church, which was demolished many years ago.

Their sense of fun is obvious when they talk about their life together, with jibes about cooking abilities and personal attributes, but when it comes to dishing the dirt on bad habits the couple reckon they don’t have any.

Valerie says the most unromantic thing Brian ever did was buying a set of scales for her 40th birthday, and she says it was a ‘very average’ marriage proposal.

“It wasn’t anything special; he took it for granted that we had been together for a while.”

But he has redeemed himself, his sentimental side ensuring he has never forgotten a birthday, Valentines Day or anniversary. And he knows how to win Valerie’s heart – with jewellery that she loves.

Around the house they balance out the chores. Brian is Mr Fix-it and takes care of all the painting, and building maintenance while Valerie makes sure dinner is on the table by 5.30 every evening as Brian “is a terrible cook,” she says.

Now in their 70s, the couple love spending time with their family, which includes four children and seven grandchildren, and taking trips around the North Island in their caravan.

Since moving to Howick 40 years ago they have become heavily involved in the local community joining several clubs and societies.

At 73, Valerie still teaches music twice a week at St Kentigern College, plays tennis and has been the pianist for the Pakuranga Choral Society for over 30 years.

Brian was a regional architect for the Ministry of Education and was influential around east Auckland, overseeing the construction of Howick College and Macleans College in the 1970s.

After retiring he found a love for photography and has been a member of the Howick Camera club for more than 14 years.

Both love to travel and are members of the Howick Travel Club.

Valerie says the secret of their successful union is that they each  have their own interests.

They often end up finishing off each other’s sentences and laugh at their undeniable predictability, yet they never get bored.

Valerie says over time “you just get into a pattern and that’s life.” And if there was ever a disagreement it was the case of “having a good sleep and forgetting about it the next day”.