ANGLE Vale’s Max and Margaret O’Rielly celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary, on Saturday.

The pair were married on April 17, 1954 having first met at a dance at the Woodville Town Hall, two years prior.

“I was 20 or 19 and Margaret was 18, we had a dance and then gradually got to know one another,” Max recalled.

“I worked at General Motors Holden as an apprentice body trimmer and Marg worked in the machine shop there as well.”

The newlyweds moved to Semaphore for a while before settling long term at Woodford Road, Elizabeth Park; the home they would raise their three daughters, Karen, Leeann and Debbie.

For much of his working life Max ran his own business, working as a timber agent for some 40 years.

They had two more homes in the Elizabeth area, before moving to the Angle Vale retirement village where they now reside.

As for reaching such a special wedding anniversary, Max said they’ve had an exciting and full life together.

“I blame it on Marg for putting up with me all my life,” he joked.

“It’s been a wonderful effort, 67 years marriage.”

In retirement Max remained heavily involved in the community.

He was a Justice of the Peace, as well as a councillor on Playford Council (and the former Elizabeth Council) for a combined 27 years.

As a couple, Max and Margaret have enjoyed many holidays, with some of the best being a cruise on the Queen Mary II, and another through Europe.

“You take life as it comes,” Max said.

“When you get married and you start to have children your life changes because you’ve got to look after your children, bring them up and raise them into adults.

“There are always hardships… and then they all get married and the weddings have all been absolutely magnificent.

“...it’s been very rewarding.” The couple now have eight grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

They celebrated their anniversary with dinner, on Saturday, at Grand Central, Elizabeth.