Chance dance encounter leads to 70th wedding anniversary
It was Roy Barton's first time at the dance and lacking the confidence to take to the floor, he kept around the fringes watching others spin under the spotlight, when a young lady caught his eye.
The former RAF crewman had agreed to go to the dance with a friend and had not planned to stay long.
But he plucked up the courage to talk to the girl who laughed as she danced, and now the pair are set to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary.
Roy, 95, says he had returned to Auckland following the surrender of Japan in World War II and had been "immediately taken" with Jean.
"She caught my eye, that's for sure. We had a lovely time chatting and the night went by so quickly.
"I couldn't dance back then but Jean taught me and we went to many more dances after that night.
"We've had some wonderful times together."
The pair arranged to meet up again the following week and within a year, Roy had proposed.
Jean, 86, says she knew straight away that Roy was the man for her.
"Somehow, we just knew we were meant to be together.
"I really liked him and when he asked me to come back to the dance again the following week, I knew he'd be there.
"Perhaps I thought more of myself than Roy thought of himself because he wasn't sure I'd show up and brought a friend along just in case."
The pair tied the knot in Auckland on June 7, 1947 and went on to have three children, Greg, Anne and Kate. They have six grandchildren and a great grandson.
They moved to Blenheim from Wellington in July last year. For Roy, it is a return to the region after he spent several months based at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Delta Camp in the Wairau Valley in 1942.
Both Roy and Jean credit having their own interests to help keep their marriage strong.
"Roy played bowls and I did a lot of volunteer work and I think it helped that we did spend time apart.
"He was good with the children as well as helping me out around the house.
"We're best friends really."
Written by Paula Hulburt. First appeared on Stuff.co.nz. Image credit: via Stuff.co.nz.