A CHANCE meeting at a skating rink led to a marriage which has lasted 50 years.

Audrey and Michael Everett celebrated their golden wedding with a party at Eldene Community Centre.

The Swindon couple have three sons, three daughters, 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

They moved into their retirement home in Lyneham just four weeks ago, having spent most of their marriage in Walcot.

Mrs Everett said: "We met at a skating rink the Majestic in Faringdon Road. That was in March of 1951."

Mrs Everett confessed that it was probably love at first sight. The couple, both 67, are retired.

Mr Everett spent most of his working life as a long distance lorry driver while Mrs Everett worked in a sausage skin factory in Walcot.

She spent the last 11 years before her retirement doing housekeeping work at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Asked for their views on what made for a long and happy marriage, both said it was a simple matter of mutual understanding.