MARRIED 70 YEARS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 2 December 1940, Page 6

MARRIED 70 YEARS

RECORD OF DUNEDIN COUPLE [United Press Association] DUNEDIN, 30th November. The notable record of having been 70 years married will be attained on Sunday by Mr and Mrs John Coombs. Calder Avenue, North East Valley, who have lived practically all their lives in Dunedin. In fact, Mrs Coombs, who came out to New Zealand in 1849, has the added distinction of having the longest period of redicence in Otago of any white woman. She has been living in Dunedin for nearly 92 years. The years sit lightly on the shoulders of the two pioneers, and no one would take them for nonagenarians. Mrs Coombs, who was Miss Elizabeth Boyes before her marriage, was born in Edinburgh in the house of John Knox, the famous preacher. She came out to New Zealand with her parents, Mr and Mrs Andrew Boyes, in the ship Mariner in 1849 and she has vivid recollections of Dunedin in those days. Their first home was a two-storied wattle and clay cottage in Manse street. and Mrs Coombs attended the first Dunedin school.

“I am quite sure this is a New Zealand record, if not a world record,” Mr Coombs told a reporter in discussing the all-important seventieth anniversary of his wedding. “There were some people in Sydney who had been married 71 years and they claimed that to be a world record but that couple is dead now.”

Mr Coombs is younger than his “bride”; he is only a mere 91 years! He was born in London but came out to New Zealand in 1858 and resided in Auckland for a time. While still a boy he came to Dunedin and took up the tanning trade. Soon he had established a tannery of his own with which he was connected till his retirement 12 years ago. The anniversary Will be observed tomorrow and Mrs Coombs is busy preparing for large crowds of visitors who are expected. On previous anniversaries they have received congratulatory telegrams from the King and Queen, the Governor-General and the Prime Minister, but they are not expecting such messages this year. “They will all be too busy thinking about the war to think of us.” Mrs Coombs said. Mr and Mrs Coombs have five children. Messrs Charles and Frank Coombs (Sydney), Mrs David Caler. Mrs P. J. Blackman, and Mrs George Stewart, all of Dunedin, as well as 27 grandchildren and 16 greatgrandchildren.