Couple Happy After 70 Married Years

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31222, 21 November 1966, Page 2

Couple Happy After 70 Married Years

“The Press’’ Special Service OAMARU, November 20. Mr William E. and Mrs Grace Galbraith are a happily married couple. There is nothing unusual about that, but when you have been married for 70 years as they have, it is something to be proud of —and they are indeed proud.

Mr Galbraith is nearly 93—his birthday is in early January —and Mrs Galbraith is 90.

They were married at Invercargill on November 18, 1896. Both said that the subsequent 70 years had been happy ones for them. “We might make the century, eh,” Mr Galbraith said laughingly, slapping his wife’s shoulder. “We are looked after very well here and are both in good health.” After their marriage Mr Galbraith was appointed shift engineer at the Mataura freezing works after having served his apprenticeship with Johnstone foundry at Invercargill. After two or three years at Mataura the family shifted to Bluff, where Mr Galbraith was second engineer at freezing works near the wharf. Eleven years later the family moved to Invercargill when Mr Galbraith became foreman at a general manufacturing and engineering works. In 1915 the last shift was

made to the Makarewa freezing works, where Mr Galbraith was chief engineer until his retirement to Oamaru in 1939.

There was a family of eight including six sons, two of whom have died, and two daughters.

Sporting interests of Mr Galbraith after his retirement included bowling as a member of the Awamoa Bowling Club. Mrs Galbraith was a dressmaker before her marriage and she sewed extensively afterwards. She was also an enthusiastic croquet player.