Don and Joan Blankley are to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary with a Rhine cruise.

The couple, of Milton's Way, Wootton Bassett, whose anniversary is tomorrow, are also to have the town's St Bartholomew's Church flood-lit in their honour and will enjoy a family lunch party

Mr Blankley, now 76, was born in Stratton, and completed an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner at the Great Western Railway Works, Swindon, where he was employed until he was 60.

"I was on the technical side, and could show you more or less where my office was, in the Designer Outlet Village," he said.

He and his wife first met in 1950 at a dance and they were married at St Mark's Church, Swindon on June 7, 1952.

"Rationing was still in force, and we saved coupons for the dress materials," Mrs Blankley said.

She worked as a nurse at Victoria Hospital, at the GWR Hospital casualty and outpatients department until her daughter Teresa was born in 1953. She was followed by son Michael, who was born in 1955.

As the cildren gew older she returned to work at Victoria Hospital for 25 years, and spent five years nursing at the Prospect Hospice when it was based there, prior to her retirement in 1991.

The couple now have four grandchildren.

Mr Blankley had heart bypass surgery ten years ago the couple lead an active life.

They have enjoyed many holidays overseas and have visited America, Canada, Russia, Cyprus and Malta.

"We love travelling in this country, too," they said.

They both enjoy their garden and Mrs Blankley also knits for Oxfam