A GENEROUS couple asked guests at their Golden Wedding anniversary party to donate to charity instead of buying them gifts.

Friends and relatives of John and Joyce Fishpool attended the open house at their Kempley home and helped raise more than £300 for the air ambulance.

The couple, both 71, met in Glouc-ester and married a short time later.

John is well known for his roles of chairman and councillor with the village’s parish council.

He worked for the Gloucester Highways Department for more than 30 years and has served as chairman of the Kempley Daffodil Weekend Group.

He has also been instrumental in organising various fund-raising activities in Weston-under-Penyard and Bridstow.

Joyce (nee Bullock), meanwhile, has been actively involved with the Mothers’ Union and Women’s Institute.

The pair have two children, Adrian and Kevin, and two grandchildren, Owen and Reuben.