Love blossomed for a Christchurch couple who met while working for a Manea flower grower and now Joost and Sheila Hoek are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary.
Mrs Hoek (nee Tweed) was working for Maurice Crouch Ltd when Dutch-born Mr Hoek joined the company thanks to a relative who was foreman at the time.
The couple were married at Manea’s St Nicolas’ Church on April 11 1955 and for the early part of their marriage lived first in Cookham Dean, Berkshire and then Rampton in Nottinghamshire.
They then went to live in Mr Hoek’s home town near The Hague in Holland where they remained for 22 years.
Mr and Mrs Hoek returned to England 35 years ago and have lived in Christchurch ever since where Mr Hoek ran his own flower growing business before retiring.
The couple have five children: Leonard, Lillian, Saskia, Linda and Rosemary. But only Rosemary lives locally in Whittlesey, the others all live in Holland..
Mr and Mrs Hoek have 13 grandchildren and their sixth great grandchild is due in July.
Mr Hoek was a keen bowls player and plays regularly for Christchurch where he also maintained the bowling green.
Mrs Hoek, who was born and brought up in Manea, is a member of a variety of local clubs including the Over 60s and the WI.
She also helps distribute Christchurch’s local magazine The Heron. The couple have asked for donations towards the publication instead of gifts when they hold a party later this month to celebrate their diamond anniversary.
The Hoeks put the success of their long marriage down to “give and take” and to never stay angry for more than 10 minutes.
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