IT was short courtship even by today's standards, but John and Betty Rooke's parents couldn't believe it when they married after less then three weeks after their first meeting.

Now the couple have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary along with their seven children.

John, 72, from Park North said: "Everyone gave us three months when we first married but we have proved them all wrong."

He said he knew that he would spend the rest of his life with Betty, 67, as soon as he was introduced to her in September 1951.

They married in a registry office on December 1.

John worked for the railways and the couple moved into a two room flat and had three children David, Peter and Christina are now aged 48, 46 and 44, respectively.

John transferred to Swindon and the family moved into Wolsely Avenue in Park South where John and Betty live today.

They went on to have four more children John, 43, Patricia, 42, Philip, 40 and Jeanette, 38.

John said: "There's no secret to success with marriage. It's just about tolerance and getting through it together."

The couple marked their anniversary by having their vows blessed at Christ Church in Old Town and a party at the Goddard Arms Hotel.