GAZETTE & HERALD: THEIR eyes first met at a dance at the Locarno in Swindon and 50 years on, Gene and Pam Rickels celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.

Now living in Florida, the couple met on November 25, 1952, when Mrs Rickels (ne Ball) was living in Ashe Crescent, Chippenham, and Mr Rickels was serving as a private with the US Air Force based at Fairford.

"Gene came and sat next to me and I asked him to dance, but he said he couldn't so I offered to show him how," said Mrs Rickels, 71.

"I was living with my parents at the time and working for the Milk Marketing Board in Kington Langley.

"We had a picture taken that night at the Lacarno and still have it."

The couple enjoyed further dates at the Locarno, and at the Gaumont Cinema in Chippenham.

"Gene's proposal was very low-key at my home with a couple of friends present," said Mrs Rickels.

"We got married at Sheldon Road Methodist Church in Chippenham on February 6, 1954.

"He had got permission from my dad and we had planned a large wedding, but sadly my dad passed away four weeks prior so my uncle Maurice Robinson offered to supply several things and my mother had the reception at home, with about 25 people."

Mr Rickels, also 71, and Mrs Rickels have two sons, Paul and Carl, and a daughter Corey, whom they adopted from Korea at the age of 18 months. They also have nine grandchildren.

The Rickels celebrated their anniversary with a Caribbean cruise, paid for by their children.

The couple, who are known as 'Snowbirds' in Sarasota, Florida because they go there for the winter and spend the summer in Granville, Ohio, still have firm ties with Wiltshire and return regularly.

"My sister Cynthia lives in Wootton Bassett and my brother Pete lives in Swindon," said Mrs Rickels.

"We both love England very much and try to return about every two years, when we stay with my sister.

"We usually all go on holiday together for a week to somewhere special and this September we hope to visit again and make a trip to Ireland."

The couple list one of the highlights of their marriage as building a new life together in America.

"Gene came from a large family and that kept me from getting homesick," said Mrs Rickels.

Asked what they thought had contributed to such a long and happy marriage, Mrs Rickels said: "First of all we are active in the church and put the Lord first in everything.

"We never go to bed mad at each other either, plus Gene brings me a cup of tea to bed every morning."

The couple started ballroom dancing lessons three years ago.

"We have a great time dancing although I am still showing him how," joked Mrs Rickels.