Alan and Marion Blackwell recently celebrated 65 years of marriage with family and friends.
A gathering was held at their home on Osatuik Road and according to Alan, more than 60 people arrived for a luncheon that was catered by family members.
Alan was born at Ootsa Lake on July 27, 1923, and Marion [Anderson] was born at Prince George on Feb. 26, 1928.
On the 27 July, 1941, Alan travelled to Prince George with his friend Harry Moffatt from Quesnel. Both Harry and Alan had joined up together for the war and were on the way to Vernon for training when they met up with Marion's mother Agnus in Prince George. As a friend of the Blackwell family, she invited them to her home for tea that afternoon.
"I saw Marion that day and said hello, then I had my cup of tea and went on my way," Alan said, adding that at that time he was 18 and Marion was just 13. Marion said she remembers Alan visiting them that day.
When he returned from World War II in 1945, Alan was a distinguished member of the Canadian First Special Service Battalion. By that time Marion was 18 years old and living and working in Burns Lake. It was during a trip to the circus that Marion's older sister Florence re-introduced Alan and Marion. "I knew Florence really well. After that Marion and I started going out together," he said.
One year later, Alan and Marion were married at the United Church in Burns Lake. A reception for family members was held at Mrs. Sugdon's house at Francois Lake, which is now the home owned by local, Hugh Neave.
The celebrations continued into the night with a dance at the Grassy Plains Hall. According to Alan, Marion's brother celebrated a little too much during the evening and took their vehicle for a spin in the fields, plowing through hay stacks. "He punched a hole in the gas tank and when we went to drive home we had no gas," laughed Alan.
"Our wedding night was spent sleeping on the seats at the Grassy Plains Hall .... what a great way to spend a wedding night. Marion's parents were then supposed to drive us home, but by this time it was late, so they also spent the night at the Grassy Plains Hall on the seats," Alan said.
"My dad [Magnus] didn't like to drive in the dark," Marion explained.
Marion said their first house was built at Takysie Lake. For the first couple of years Alan was doing odd jobs. He also worked at a sawmill with Wilton Barker.
In 1951, the Blackwells moved to Ootsa Lake. "I bought a property there through the Veterans Land Act," Alan said. When [Rio Tinto] Alcan flooded the area in 1953, their property was flooded and they said they were forced to move. "Ootsa Lake used to be so beautiful it had beautiful white sand beaches," Marion said. They had planned to stay and eventually build cabins on the property. "We were flooded out before this ever happened," Alan said.
From there they moved straight to Vancouver, purchasing the Kerrisdale Bowladrome. "We lived there for a year and ran the 10 lane bowling alley," he said.
In 1953 Alan received a call from Bill Richmond, who was a game warden. He asked if Alan was still interested in purchasing a guiding territory, as there was one for sale.
"I said, 'save it for me,'" Alan said. So they packed up and moved back to Ootsa Lake, purchasing the property next to their previous one. This was where they stayed until seven years ago when they purchased the Osatuik Road home.
One of Alan's best memories guiding was taking out Lord and Lady Tweedsmuir. "They were great people and said that their hunting experience was the best holiday they had in their life." Alan built a successful guiding business from the ground up.
Years later, Alan and his son Reg travelled to England and decided to visit Lord Tweedsmuir during their holiday. Alan said he knocked on the door of the House of Lords in London and was invited in for tea. "Lord Tweedsmuir introduced us to the whole chamber at the House of Lords," he said.
At the age of 65 he sold his guiding territory, but continued to guide until he was 75. "It was something I really enjoyed," Alan said, adding that he wished he could still go guiding. Marion agreed saying that the years spent at Ootsa Lake were happy times. They are now planning another move from their Osatuik Road home to Tchesinkut Lake.
Sixty five years, five children, 15 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren later, Alan and Marion say they have never had a fight. "Marion has been a really good wife, we have gotten along pretty good," Alan said. Marion agreed. "We do get along really well," she said.
Both he and Marion say that to have a happy and successful marriage you need to have a lot of tolerance. "You have to be able to forgive and forget," he added.