DAVIL and Sheila Speid have known each other since childhood. However, the boy’s and girl’s next door friendship blossomed into a beautiful marriage of 25 years.

A few weeks ago as they renewed their vows and exchanged new rings friends and family who gathered to celebrate the special moment say the couple’s relationship is one many should emulate.

The couple’s niece Athlea Kinganjui, in giving a toast at the anniversary celebration, lauded how loving the couple is. “You don’t ever see them walking on the road without them holding hands from they were teenagers in love and even now when they walk out into the community,” she said.

Davil who is affectionately called Zanda and Shelia who is known as Pink were married on December 22, 1990 and migrated to the United States shortly after. Now the couple is looking forward to returning to their hometown in Portland where the love story began as teenagers.

“I used to ask my grandmother permission to go outside to use the toilet in the late evening and would use the time to meet Zanda just up the hill and quickly get back in as we lived just across from each other, Sheila recalls. One night grandma decided to send my cousin to accompany me and I had to strike a deal to which he agreed and found somewhere to stay until I returned. That’s how it all started,” she said with a broad grin.

Their grandniece Tiffany Smith also spoke of their kindness. “Auntie and Uncle have always been kind to us and have always spoken to us about our education and doing well. When you ask for anything that is essential they will always go the extra mile to see that it is done.”

The union has produced two sons Christopher and Milton.