MIKE and Catherine Thatcher celebrated 50 years of marriage on Saturday after first meeting when they worked at Westinghouse in Chippenham.

Born in Wexford, Ireland, Mrs Thatcher moved to Corsham shortly after she was born with her mum and dad, Molly and Alex, who both worked for the Ministry of Defence, while Mr Thatcher was born in Chippenham to Herbert and Vera.

The couple first met in 1964, when Mr Thatcher worked in the tool room and Mrs Thatcher worked in the canteen at Westinghouse.

“We got pushed together in a washroom and my friend at Avon Rubber she married a Brian Thatcher, who was Mike’s cousin, so that’s how I got talking to him,” said Mrs Thatcher, aged 70.

“Our first official date was in John Coles Park at 12.10pm on August 28 and he bought me a Cadbury Chocolate bar.

“He never did actually ask me to marry him, he asked my dad if he could have my hand in marriage but he said that he would have to wait until I was 21-years-old.

“But when the caravan became available we just automatically booked the hall and church.”

The couple married on April 1, 1967, at St Patrick’s Catholic Church at 12.10pm before they spent the first two years of their marriage living in a caravan on Bradford Road.

They moved into their current house on Ashfield Road in 1969 when their daughter, Samantha, was nine-months-old and they also have a son, Robert. They also now have a 14-year-old grand-daughter named Darcie.

Mr Thatcher was lucky to survive being hit by a car 26 years ago after suffering bone fractures and internal injuries, while Mrs Thatcher was diagnosed with breast cancer 12 years ago but has been given the all-clear.

“When Mike had his accident he got compensation and we have lived a good life, we have spent it all but we have enjoyed ourselves,” said Mrs Thatcher.

Mr Thatcher, aged 72, said: “The secret to marriage? I sit down, shut up and do as you’re told.”