Ref. 28409-26HIGHWORTH mayor Ken Poulton is having a double celebration today.

Once the Christmas presents have all been opened, Ken and his wife Elizabeth still have their golden wedding anniversary to enjoy.

The couple were married on Boxing Day in 1953 in Carluke in Lanarkshire.

Ken, 77, who has been mayor since May and a town councillor for 16 years, said: "After Christmas, it's nice just to have a quiet celebration with family and friends.

"It's quite nice having a wedding anniversary at this time of year, it's like a continuation of Christmas."

Had it not been for a chance encounter in a hospital ward, Ken and Elizabeth might never have met.

Ken, a naval officer, was based at Chatham in Kent when he was involved in a motorcycle accident.

It was while he was recovering in hospital that he met Elizabeth, a nurse.

Ken joked: "There were several nice looking nurses, but she was the only one who agreed to come out with me.

"There was just something special between us."

Following a whirlwind six-month romance, the pair married as soon as they could because Ken, a chief petty officer, was due to leave for service abroad.

They got married in Lanarkshire as Elizabeth's family come from the area.

In the January after their wedding, Ken, was sent on a three-month tour of the Mediterranean.

The next year, Ken was sent on a tour of the Americas, and the couple didn't see each other for a year.

"It was difficult, but in those days you just accepted it as part of service life," said Ken.

Elizabeth, 70, said: "The first time I saw Ken he was wearing these green hospital pyjamas.

"I liked him because he was a very caring person."

The couple, who have three children and three grandchildren, moved to Highworth in 1966 when Ken took a job at the Vicker's engineering plant at South Marston.

Besides being on the town council, Ken is a member of the Highworth Lions.