‘Sport-mad’ Horsham couple celebrate 60th anniversary

Mervyn ‘Dutch’ Hollands and wife Marion met at the old Oxford Road school in Horsham and talked over the fence dividing boys and girls at the school.

They celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary today (Thursday March 26).

Marion admitted the couple were ‘sport-mad’ and added they have always kept active together.

She said: “We started off cycling, we would ride our bikes to the coast every Sunday.

“Then it was tennis and badminton, and now it’s golf.”

The pair can often be found at Cottesmore Golf Club in Pease Pottage, where they are members - although Dutch confessed ‘she always beats me’.

Both Dutch, 80, and Marion, 79, were born and raised in Horsham.

They were married in St Mark’s church, and have lived in their Fitzalan Road home for more than 40 years. They have two sons and two grandchildren.

Marion said: “I don’t know where the time has gone.

“We have always done things together. We are not one of those couples who say we have never argued!

“We try to keep active, I certainly don’t feel my age.”

Dutch is a former bricklayer who served as a medic in the RAF for two years.

He said: “There was a class of about 30 of us. I have never been academically very clever but I finished top of the class.”

He was also a Scoutmaster and has held various positions with local scouting groups.

The couple will be celebrating their anniversary over the weekend, with a family dinner on Saturday and an open house on Sunday.