Left: Percival and Nina McCatty on their wedding day 57 years ago. - contributed   Right: Percival and Nina after 57 years of marriage - george henry

GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

spaldings, clarendon:

Nina and Percival McCatty celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary on January 18. Percival was 22 and Nina was 24, and according to them they have remained as man and wife over the almost six decades due mainly to the Grace of God.

Percival told THE STAR that he was working with athletics star Herb McKenley's father Dr. A.G. McKenley who had a pharmacy at Thompson Town in Clarendon. He said one day he and Dr. McKenley were passing through Osbourne Store on their way to Thompson Town when they saw this beautiful young girl.

'Prince Charming'

"I was at Osbourne Store where I worked at the post office, waiting for a ride to go home at Blackwoods in Clarendon which is near to Thompson Town and I asked Dr. McKenley for a ride," said Mrs. McCatty with a smile.

She said when she got into the car that day she had a book reading and Percival asked if he could get a look at it, but she refused to give it to him, because maybe he thought he was 'Prince Charming.

"He was still there trying to talk to me, because he thought he was Prince Charming", said Mrs. McCatty while she smiled at her husband.

She added that even though she got the ride home she went back to Osbourne Store and it was the same vehicle she rode back in with Percival and Dr. McKenley. However this happened after Nina told one of her cousins that she met a young man in the doctor's car and that she liked him.

Mrs. McCatty noted that her cousin who was also from Blackwoods rode with the two men and it was the cousin who pre-empted Nina by telling Percival that she had a crush on him.

Percival who is affectionately called 'Maas P' said after he got the good news he then started to write to Nina and they became friends. However, he said it took a long while before they got married.

He said his mother on hearing that he and this beautiful girl were friends said she wanted to see Nina who was now still at Osbourne Store in the parish. He added that his mother went to the Post Office where his companion was working and asked for mail. But according to him, his mother was just inquisitive as she knew that there would have been no letter there for her.

Mrs. McCatty explained that when Percival's mother asked for the letters, Nina asked her where she was from and her reply was that she was from St. Tulis. But when she told Nina where she was from, the Post Mistress said she was not aware of her name, but said she still looked if there was any letters there for her.

Ups and downs

Mrs. McCatty said she and Percival continued their relationship and it blossomed into marriage thereafter. For the two, there have been ups and downs in their marriage, but that they have been able to cope and have been having a good time together over their 57 years together.

They told THE STAR that through thick and thin they have been able to raise 11 children. Percival, for whom Nina said she prayed for 13 years before he accepted Jesus Christ, said his wife has been a wonderful woman over the many years and he is convinced that when he married her he made the right choice.

"I made the right choice because there were many who were interested in me, but I had to choose the right one", said Mr. McCatty with a broad smile while looking at his wife.

The two said that if they should live their life over, they would do the right thing again by getting married to each other. They want young people who intend to get married to know that when they get married they should try to know each other, learn to be forgiving, trust each other and get to know God who should be at the centre of their marriage.