RON and Trin Baldwin have everything they could wish for in each other which is why the couple don't want presents for their golden wedding.

Instead they are asking friends and family to mark their 50th anniversary with donations to the Swindon Cancer Appeal.

The couple, of Gipsy Lane, Swindon, are tonight celebrating with 70 guests and a live band at the Vision Club in Gorse Hill.

And they are hoping that the evening proves to be a real money-spinner for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Trin, 73, says she has held Macmillan nurses close to her heart ever since her mother Gertrude died of leukaemia 16 years ago.

The former factory worker explained: "My mother's nurse was absolutely brilliant. She used to come around twice a day towards the end, to turn her in bed and change her.

"My mother was so frail we were frightened to touch her. The nurse also used to chat to us and explained things."

The Baldwins, who met outside the former Swindon gas works, near Fleet Street, plan to have several Macmillan collection boxes at the party.

Ron, 72, a former gas fitter, said: "We had a party for our ruby anniversary 10 years ago and received so many presents we didn't know what to do with them all.

"Some of them are still in the attic because when you get to our age there isn't a lot of space left. We thought the appeal would benefit much more from donations. I don't know how much we'll raise it all depends how generous our friends are!"

Ron and Trin were married at St Mark's Church, Church Place, Swindon, and honeymooned in a caravan in Weymouth.

They have a daughter, Deborah, 47, and granddaughter Kerry, 22.

Appeal manager Graziella Campisano said: "This is another fine example of a couple's selfless and extremely generous action to ask for donations to the appeal instead of presents.

"We continue to be touched by individual kindness."

"I'm thrilled that people have taken this appeal to their hearts."

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