FIFTY years of happily married life is being celebrated today at the Southwell home of Brian Godfrey and his wife, Ann.

The couple first met in 1955 in Malvern when Ann and a girl friend had hailed a taxi and Brian, a 21-year-old sapper in the Royal Engineers who was a stranger to the girls, cadged a lift' and, as Ann reminded him on their golden anniversary: "You walked off without offering your share of the fare!"

They recognised each other later at a village hop and Brian and Ann, an 18-year-old laboratory assistant at the Institute of Horticulture in Pershore, married on October 15, 1957. On leaving the army, Brian went into engineering and rose to become senior science engineer with the Electricity Generating Board in Portishead.

The couple have three children and five grandchildren and, regular visitors over the years to visit their daughter and her family who live on Portland, they decided to make their home on the island in 1999.

They are both members of the Portland branch of Dorset Association for the Disabled of which Brian is a former chairman, Parkinson's Society and Carers UK.

Due to health problems, Brian attends the Acorns once weekly and along with Ann, he expressed his appreciation for the excellent service they receive from the NHS and social services in the area and consider themselves very fortunate to live in such peaceful surroundings among such a good community.

Ann spoke of Brian's time with the Porteshead Players and his triumph as the lead in Hobson's Choice, and Brian responded: "Never mind Hobson, Brian Godfrey made the right choice when he married you!"

The couple, who are celebrating with their family, renewed their wedding vows at All Saints Church in Easton this morning.