GOLDEN wedding couple Toni and Cilla Cox, who were married at St Bartholomew's Church, Royal Wootton Bassett, on August 14, 1965, look forward to celebrating their anniversary with family and friends.

They live happily at Beamans Lane, in the house where Mrs Cox's dad was born, and two doors away from where she grew up. She first met Mr Cox, from Old Walcot, Swindon, when he visited a neighbour's house.

Mrs Cox (nee Smart) was impressed that he was wearing a suit. She recalled: "I told my Gran, 'He's different, and he's the one I'm going to marry.' I was only 15 at the time, but he walked me home, and we started courting."

They were both working for Swindon companies at the time. Later, Mr Cox went into the railway works, before becoming factory foreman at the former Mudfords at Morstone Road, Wootton Bassett.

Romance blossomed for Mr and Mrs Cox, on trips to the cinema in Swindon and at dances in The Barn, a hall at the back of the former Beaufort Arms pub. The couple got engaged in January 1965. They were married that summer by the Rev John Biddlecombe. The four bridesmaids, in pastel-coloured dresses, were Mrs Cox's sisters Christine and the late Evelyn, and Mr Cox's sisters Julie and Josie.

After a reception at the High Street Club, where Mrs Cox's dad and Mr Cox were both on the committee, the newlyweds honeymooned at Weston-super-mare. They rented their first house in Wood Street and later moved to Vale View and Coleridge Close, before settling into their present home 17 years ago. Their three daughters, Michelle, Samantha and Cassandra, were born in 1966, 1968 and 1972. Now there are ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren (with two more on the way). "That's exciting!" Mrs Cox said.

Family life is very important to the couple, and when he was a successful contestant in the TV show In It To Win It, in 2008, 19 family members shared in his success, with a wonderful holiday in Florida. Mr and Mrs Cox have enjoyed several trips to America and Canada. Mr Cox said: "We have fallen in love with cruising, and have been to Alaska, the Baltic, the Canaries, the Mediterranean, Norway and the Caribbean. It's a change from caravanning, which we did when the kids were small."

They enjoy a relaxed, active life, and like going out in the town.

"Wootton Bassett has grown so much over the years. I used to know the names of all the streets but not now!" said Mrs Cox. Mr Cox is secretary of the local cribbage league and secretary of the RAOB Fred Pearce Lodge. Mrs Cox enjoys crafts and makes beautiful cards, and keepsakes.

"That's for pleasure, not for sale, and I make all our own Christmas and birthday cards," she said.

She created decorative invitations for the anniversary party, to be held in the spacious function room at Charrins Bar, the former High Street Club premises.

Mr Cox and many of their family support Swindon Town and as a season ticket holder he also goes to as many games as possible. "I've been to most of their matches since 1953," he said.