BRADFORD-ON-AVON couple Jan and Thelma Oleszynski celebrate 50 years of marriage on Friday, July 26.

They plan to spend the weekend being pampered by family, culminating in a barbecue with relatives on Sunday evening.

Mr Oleszynski, 77, was born of Polish parents in France and joined the Polish Army during World War II.

He was stationed in Scotland when he was demobbed and chose to work in the mines in England. It was while working at Radstock that he met his future wife Thelma, 71, at Westwood Hostel.

The couple married in a small ceremony at Trowbridge Registry Office and went on to have four children. During this time Mrs Oleszynski worked nearby covering tennis balls.