THE secret to successful marriage remains a mystery to most people.

However, after 50 years together Gwen and Gordon Parkin are in a good position to have an idea. Mrs Parkin, aged 72, says it is simply loving each other.

Her husband, on the other hand, says it comes down to two words - yes dear.

Mr and Mrs Parkin, of Cambrai Drive, Norton Barracks, are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary today.

The loving couple, who have travelled throughout most of the world due to Mr Parkin's army career, live today just yards away from where they met in 1955.

"I came to a dance at the barracks with my friend," recalled Mrs Parkin. "Gordon was a sergeant at the time and we asked him how to get to the main hall.

"When we came out the dance he was waiting to show us the way out.

"He walked me home and he asked me for a date."

A year later they married in St James Church, Norton.

In January 1957 Mr Parkin, now aged 73, was posted to the West Indies. His wife, and the rest of the Worcestershire Regiment, soon followed.

The couple lived in Jamaica for 15 months. Mrs Parkin says she vividly remembers arriving at their new home and asking why is was on stilts. "To keep the wild animals out" came the reply.

Other posting included Nassau in the Bahamas, Minden in Germany and finally Berlin. After also touring Malaya, North Africa and Cyprus Mr Parkin retired with the rank of major in 1983.

Their first son Alan, who was born in Jamaica, sadly died in a road accident in 1992.

Their three other children, Wendy, aged 46, Gillian, aged 42, and Michael, aged 34, plus their seven grandchildren ranging from two to 22 years old, will join them today for an anniversary lunch at the Diglis Hotel in Worcester.