Today, seventy years ago, Leo (97) and Tinie (91) Bijleveld tied the knot. That was reason enough for a party in the Kornoeljehof care center in Vries, where the couple lives.
Leo and Tinie met each other at the end of 1949, during dance lessons in Coevorden. At that time, Leo was taking a course at the oil trade school in Schoonebeek. Tinie lived in Coevorden. Leo eventually went to work for the then Batavian Petroleum Company, later the Shell. The couple in love married in 1952.
In 1956 they left for Qatar where Leo went to work on an oil rig. Leo then worked in New Guinea, Qatar, Oman and Nigeria again, before returning to a number of oil rigs in the North Sea.
After a while Leo stopped and started to enjoy his retirement. That happened at the age of 55. Together with Tinie he ended up in Drenthe. “We got to know a lot of people from the NAM. They all lived around Assen. I also come from Drenthe and we love horses. Our youngest daughter also rode horses. That’s why we ended up in Drenthe 45 years ago,” says Tinie.
Since September last year, the couple no longer lives independently, but in the Kornoeljehof care center in Vries. The couple is enjoying themselves in the care center. “We won’t leave here anymore. It’s great here. Really great, we can’t complain. The food is good, rooms are nice and the staff is good. Can’t really do better”, she sounds satisfied.
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