A WHIRLWIND romance has led to 50 years of wedded bliss for a well-known former south Herefordshire publican and his wife.

It was love at first sight for Sydney (Tim) Wheway when he asked his future bride, Valda to a dance in Walsall all those years ago.

Unfortunate circumstances and fate brought them together - Mr Wheway was accompanying his sister, Betty, to the dance but she fell and hit her head.

With no partner for the dance, Mr Wheway thought he would 'take the plunge' and give Valda, a family friend, a call. The pair were engaged within a month and married in Walsall the following August.

After the Second World War, Mr Wheway went into the family chair-making business and was involved in industry early in his career.

He became the president of the Walsall Chamber of Commerce as well as a governor of the local school and the secretary of the local branch of the NSPCC.

The desire for a change of pace led to Mr Wheway to move with his wife and two children, Jude and John, to the Temple Bar in Ewyas Harold in 1966.

Mrs Wheway's love of drama prompted her to start a group in Ewyas Harold called the 'Curtainraisers' and she was also involved in a production for the Hereford Operatic Society.

Using her qualifications and skills as a music, drama and speech training teacher, Mrs Wheway also helped countless young farmers put on productions and shows as well as being a member of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators.

After eight years at the Temple Bar, the couple moved to Kilpeck - which has been their home for the last 30 years - because Mrs Wheway was suffering from ill-health.

Much of their life has revolved around the world famous Kilpeck Church where Mr Wheway was a churchwarden for 10 years and his wife was an organist for 15.

"Regard all disasters as incidents and never make an incident into a disaster!" was the Wheways response when they were questioned on the success of their long and happy marriage.

Family and friends, including their three grandchildren Jessica, Adam and Oliver, came from far and wide to celebrate the couple's anniversary with a sumptuous lunch at Pengethley Manor last Sunday .