"I thought it was 62," Mrs Hocking said, laughing.
The Oamaru couple, who celebrate their blue sapphire wedding anniversary on Monday, first met at a school concert in Waitati, but agreed it was probably not love at first sight. Their next meeting was at an Early Settlers dance in Dunedin.
Mrs Hocking (nee Clark), who turns 87 next week, grew up in Waitati, while Mr Hocking (88) came from Dunback and worked as a carpenter.
The couple were married in a church wedding in Dunedin in 1943 and, as the minister who married them was later dismissed, Mrs Hocking joked that she often wondered if they really were married. It was a small family wedding, followed by a reception and a dance.
The couple lived in Blenheim for several years before moving to Dunedin until about 1950. They then moved to Wanaka Station, where Mr Hocking worked as a shepherd.
They then lived at Bushey Park, near Palmerston, for 12 months before going farming at Goodwood. They retired to Waikouaiti, where they built a house, and moved to Oamaru three years ago to be nearer family.
Mrs Hocking is a very capable craftswoman, well-known in spinning and weaving circles.
Mr and Mrs Hocking had three sons. They have two surviving grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Asked the secret to a long and happy marriage, Mrs Hocking quipped: "fight every week".
