A REGISTRATION plate made for two marks a milestone for a Portland couple.

Ted and June Crocker’s initials are together on their car in honour of their golden wedding anniversary.

Their licence plate ‘EC06 JFC’, stands for Edward Crocker and June Frances Crocker and was chosen by the couple to celebrate 50 years of marriage.

They will also have a party with family and friends at the Weston Scout Hall on Portland on Saturday to celebrate their big day.

Ted and June met at Ringwood Carnival, both aged 19, under unusual circumstances.

June, 71, said: “I was running away from someone who I didn’t like when I met Ted.

“We both used to work near each other in Christchurch and would cycle there, six miles each way every day.”

The couple enjoyed cycling around the countryside together while courting.

Ted, also 71, was by June’s side when she underwent an operation to remove facial growths.

He said: “I love June’s attitude to life and her style. Any couple who say they never have an argument are lying. People always said that we wouldn’t last because we don’t have a family but we have.”

The pair married at Ringwood Congregational Church in 1959 and went to Brighton on their honeymoon.

Ted’s role as a rounds supervisor for Unigate Milk brought him to Portland and he then went back into his original trade working at the John Lewis delicatessen in Christchurch.

The pair share the common interest of working in the food industry.

June spent 14 years as a chef at the Lobster Pot restaurant and worked as a cook at a nursing home before retiring.

Because June suffered two accidents, Ted spends a lot of time caring for her.

June said: “Ted’s very caring. I have a few health problems but he helps me a lot. There’s a lot of things I can’t do without him. Without him it would be a real struggle. We have arguments, but who doesn’t? We respect each other and have plenty of give and take.”