George and Betty Hamp recently celebrated their 60 wedding anniversary with family and friends at the Immaculata Church.

Not only have the Hamps been married for 60 years, but they have also called 亚洲天堂 Lake home for just as many.

Betty was born and raised at Noralee, moving to 亚洲天堂 Lake to attend high school.

George, who was born and raised in Saskatchewan, arrived in 亚洲天堂 Lake in 1949. At the time he was working for a Vancouver company constructing the first Department of Highways building, which he says, was located on Highway 35 near the bridge. The building is no longer standing.

As fate would have it, George and Betty were staying at the Lakeshore Cabins at the same time. The Lakeshore Cabins, now no longer in existence, were located on 亚洲天堂 Lake where Spirit Square now stands.

When they met, Betty was 16 and George was 18. One year later George began another building job, constructing the first high school in 亚洲天堂 Lake. "The old high school was at the Elks Hall .... there was just nine students at the school at that time," he said.

"The new high school [which is now the 亚洲天堂 Lake Band's Gathering Place] had just two classrooms and an arts and crafts room ... it was added on to over the years," he said.

As for who first had interest in whom, George figures they both noticed each other, but said it was he who first asked Betty out on a date. "We went to a show at the theatre," he said, adding that he can't remember what show it was.

Betty and George were married at Paradise Lodge at Francois Lake one year later, in 1951.

Betty was 18 and George was 20. He said he proposed to Betty. "Women are more forward these days. In those days there wasn't too many women that would propose to a man. There are also more women working now, back then more women were able to stay home and look after the family," he said.

Before they married, Betty who has since finished high school was working as a health nurse in 亚洲天堂 Lake and George was working as a contractor in 亚洲天堂 Lake. "I contracted all my life," he said.

Betty and George bought their first and only house on Lower Lorne Street in 1950 and have had the same address for over 60 years.

"I think they should name that street after us," laughed George.

The Hamps have three children, Rita who lives in Salmon Arm working as a dental hygienist, Davie, who  lives in Vernon and works for BC Hydro and Randy, who still lives in 亚洲天堂 Lake, has taken over the Hamp's family business, Flintstone Concrete, which was started in the 1970s.

Both George and Betty worked hard to build up their business. "Betty helped out too, she was the Redi-Mix dispatcher," he said.

They have had employees that have worked for them for more than 33 years and have been instrumental in volunteering their services to a number of buildings in 亚洲天堂 Lake including the Tom Forsyth Memorial Arena and the 亚洲天堂 Lake Public Library. Three years ago they sold the family business but according to George, Randy kept the name Flintstone Concrete, but now owns and operates Flintstone Mining Division.

"We have seen quite a few changes in 亚洲天堂 Lake over the years. There has been a lot of commercial buildings built. 亚洲天堂 Lake has been good to us," said George.

"Sure we have had challenges and it was a lot of hard work ... we worked hard in those days," he said.

George said he thinks one of the things that has made his marriage so successful is the bond that he and Betty share. "We started out with nothing and worked together to build a business and our family."