BORN and bred Swindonians Don and Joan Blankley, are celebrating their golden wedding.

They live in Milton's Way, Wootton Bassett, and Joan (nee Dent) is a former nurse. Don, 76, was born at Stratton and completed an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner at Swindon railway works, where he was employed until he was 60.

He and Joan, 77, first met in 1950 at a dance at the the Majestic, where a dance floor-cum-roller skating rink covered Milton Road Baths during winter months. Romance flourished and they were married at St Mark's on June 7, 1952.

Their daughter Teresa was born in 1953 and son Michael in 1955. Now there are four grandchildren.

After two moves in Wootton Bassett, they settled in Milton's Way 18 years ago.

Joan, who returned to nursing as their family grew up, was at the Victoria Hospital for 25 years, and at Prospect Hospice for five years when it was based there, before her retirement in 1991.

Now her hobbies include walking, and knitting for Oxfam and they both enjoy their garden, and their family.

Wootton Bassett parish church will be floodlit for their golden wedding. A family lunch party is planned and they will be going on a Rhine cruise later this year.