From Algiers to Béziers, Andrée and Roger, 91 and 92 years old, 74 years of love against all odds

Andrée and Roger Chaussat arrived in France from Algiers in 1962. Antonia Jimenez

Andrée et Roger Chaussat sont arrivés d'Alger en France en 1962. Antonia Jimenez

Le couple de Biterrois, originaire d’Alger qu’il a quittée en 1962, coule des jours paisibles, heureux et amoureux à Béziers, où il vit depuis 1972. Une belle histoire d’amour éternel.

It is a love from another time, that those under twenty will not be able to know… It is 1951, in Algiers, in the department of French Algeria. Even if voices are already being raised to “put an end to despotism and colonialist corruption” (article from August 25, 1951, in the newspaper L’Algérie libre), Andrée, 17, and Roger, 18, both born in Algiers, enjoy the lightness of their age and would not miss the Algiers ball for anything in the world. Especially Roger, a great athlete and very good dancer.

Meeting in 1951, in Algiers

“I had a date for each dance. But when Andrée arrived, I spotted her. And when I saw that a date was about to invite her, I rushed to be the first to reserve a dance for her. We danced to the song “Pink cherry tree and white apple tree, I thought I was dying of love while kissing her…” And I kissed her… on the cheek.”

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Holder of a CAP electrician, Roger worked for a year before leaving to do his military service; Andrée had just joined Socoma, a commercial and mining company, as a shorthand typist. They would see each other once a week, during leave. “Very early on, I wrote a letter to his father to ask him to accept our engagement, I wanted to eliminate all possible suitors”, smiles Roger. Who will swap the fatigues for the groom's suit at the end of his service, on December 16, 1954. Andrée becomes Mrs. Chaussat. Her young husband will work for the Algerian railways (CFA). “It was a very happy and difficult time at the same time because protest movements by Algerians wanting independence were starting to arise.” And Andrée continued: “Yes, you weren't allowed to hang around in the streets at night, there was a curfew…” Roger, very verbose about his life in Algeria, passionate about poetry and writing, has also written a book, “For whom ? Why did I leave my father's Algeria” so that “his children and grandchildren know the truth that is still hidden, some anecdotes from his civilian life and his military periods exorcised so as to “not lose his cool”.”

The CFA send the young groom to the border Tunisian. They already have two children, Marie-Hélène and Jean-Michel. “We left the capital, Andrée her job, to go and live in a tiny village where there was nothing: no doctor, no school, no pharmacy, no shops, no drinking water…”The couple had to face the harsh conditions but, very united, they overcame everything. Roger, in the context of his work, indicated that he had experienced several attacks. “Luckily, I always escaped them.” “Thanks to the good Lord, continues Andrée, very religious like her husband, but you had to be on the alert, constantly”.

In 1962, six months after buying an apartment on the heights of Algiers, they would be among the very many French people to leave the country in which they were born. “I went to accompany a friend to the boat, which had three places. But at the last minute, she didn't want to leave. I quickly bought her tickets back. My wife and two children took the boat. I joined them two months later.”

Arrival in France

André has a sister who is already exiled in Montpellier, who lives with her disabled daughter. She joins her at first. “When Roger arrived with his whole family and mine, we rented an apartment in Palavas, then in Gignac.” Roger still works for the railways, it is no longer the CFA but the SNCF. The family will move to Montpellier. Roger creates and chairs the Muc basketball club in 1963, a year later, the railway workers' diving club in Sète, in 1967, the La Croix d'Argent basketball club…

In 1972, the SNCF, seeing his sporting pedigree, offered him a career change: to give up his job as a signal and switch control officer to join the company's youth service. He accepted. The Chaussat family moved to Béziers. He became a physical education instructor, director of the Béziers leisure centre (which was opposite the Sauclières stadium), and, in the summer, director of SNCF holiday centres, where Andrée regularly worked alongside him, in the commissary, the linen room…

A third child was born: Catherine. Roger will continue to be very active in the Béziers community and in the life of his neighborhood, Iranget.

“On May 1, 1987, I retired.” In their beautiful apartment, the couple, now 91 and 92 years old, are in great shape. And continue to love each other as much as on the first day. “Roger always puts little love notes next to the coffee he serves me…” “Trust, tolerance, sharing responsibilities, faith… That's what unites us, not to mention the trials we encounter, which can sometimes separate couples.”

We wish them many more years of happiness and love to enjoy without moderation.

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