A HEREFORD couple celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss with a blessing at the same church in which they were married.

Gerald and Irene Davies, of Putson, met a year after the Three Counties Show, when Mr Davies, who had spent the war years on HMS Formidable in the Navy, asked her out.

The couple married at Fownhope on September 8, 1951, and Mr Davies settled into a career with Thorn Lighting until he retired.

Mrs Davies juggled her time between working on the land and bringing up their two children, Charles and Paulette.

Nowadays, the couple keep themselves busy with shopping and gardening, and they believe that being in love and being happy with one another to be the key to a long marriage.

As well as the blessing, there was a special lunch and a party for the Davies family and friends, organised by the couple's children and grand-daughter, Zoey.