WHEN Arthur Brockie met Royal McIntyre on the dance floor at Ipswich Showgrounds in 1960, he never imagined it would lead to another very special royal connection more than 60 years later.
Arthur claims it was his fancy footwork that won her over but Royal claims she spun her own little bit of magic that night. Whatever the secret to their lasting love, Arthur and Royal have been together ever since and celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on April 4th with congratulations from King Charles III, who has sent a letter to the couple to commemorate the milestone. The Royal delivery is a first for the retirement community at Silkstone that Arthur and Royal now call home.
Three years after meeting at the dance Arthur and Royal were married at the Congregational Church in the city. The best man drove them to their honeymoon destination at Coolangatta and they caught the train home.
The seaside spot became a favourite holiday venue in the years to follow, and started a 20-year love affair with caravanning which saw them take off on family adventures with young daughters Vanessa and Nadine.
For Arthur and Royal the adage that ‘the family that plays together stays together’ rings true.
“We both played sport together all the time in local teams. Royal was selected for district hockey and softball. We also started playing tennis when we got married, and when we had children they started playing tennis too,” he said.
Although they have hung up their dancing shoes, Arthur and Royal enjoy plenty of other activities at the retirement community that has been their home for the last 16 years.
