WHEN Bob Landford was kicked out of class for yelping in pain he did not expect to be greeted by his future wife.
His bottom had just been twice jabbed with a protractor wielded by another student and he believed his luck that day had turned sour.
But there Judy stood, outside the Brisbane State High School chemistry lab, expelled from her lesson for talking.
It was love at first site.
“Something clicked,” Bob said.
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The high school sweethearts, who struck up an immediate friendship, became husband and wife three years later on December 21, 1957.
Judy said their secret to marriage was simple.
“I was brought up predominantly by my grandmothers who (imparted) that it is better to give rather than take,” she said.
Bob gave another explanation for their marital success – he said four other couples from school remained together and that clearly, something had been in the water.
After their marriage in Brisbane at St John’s Anglican Cathedral, Judy’s employment was terminated as was custom and the couple raised four sons.
Bob, who was in the national service, worked as a teacher in Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory before moving into the computing industry, from which he retired from 17 years ago.
Judy said she and Bob had celebrated their diamond anniversary throughout December with friends and family.
First in Canberra, surrounded by family gathered for the marriage of a granddaughter, engagement of a grandson and sixth birthday of a great-grandchild.
Additional celebrations were later held, with the pair joined by relatives and friends to mark the occasion.
