A Swindon couple who returned to the town after living all over the world are celebrating 50 years of marriage today.

Roy King, 72, met Grace Bryant, 69, while working at Plessey's, Kembrey Street, Swindon, in the late summer of 1952.

Grace was a clerk in the goods inwards department, and Roy was an electrician.

He frequently visited goods inwards to carry out repairs to electrical equipment.

The two soon became friends because Grace often visited the works Social Club in Cricklade Road where Roy was a drummer in a group.

Romance blossomed when Roy asked Grace to accompany him to see Eddie Calvert at the Empire Theatre, for their first date in February 1953, and they got married on August 22, 1953, at St Mark's Church, Swindon.

Roy, who had already been through National Service in the Army, left Plessey's and rejoined the forces in 1958, and the couple then moved around the world on postings to Malaya, Singapore, and Cyprus.

He became a warrant officer in the ordnance department, doing clerical work.

The couple, from Upper Stratton, have four children, Daryll, 43, Nick, 42, Shaun, 40, and Steph, 38, and three grandchildren Emma, Katy and Riley.

Grace says the secret of a happy marriage is patience and the ability to laugh at whatever life throws at you.

She said: "We share everything if we can. Roy has always been good at cooking, washing and ironing and I like to do the garden. In some ways we are a very modern couple!"

Roy and Grace have not got anything specific planned for today, although they hope to meet up with their family for a special occasion in the near future.