BOB and Enid Buckland of Britten Drive, Malvern, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at the weekend with family and friends at the Civil Service Club in Spring Lane.

Mr Buckland, originally from Wiltshire, was posted as an RAF drill sergeant to Hensford, in Staffordshire, Mrs Buckland's home town, and they met at a dance in Cannock in 1951, marrying two years later,

In 1973, Mr Buckland's career with the Ministry of Defence brought the family to Malvern, where they have lived ever since.

They have three sons and a daughter, and nine grandchildren.

Mr and Mrs Buckland are well-known in Malvern as members of a number of charity and social groups. Mrs Buckland is a volunteer at the St Michael's Hospice shop in Church Street

As well as the party, Mr and Mrs Buckland marked their anniversary with a luxury cruise in the eastern Caribbean, during which they visited islands including Grenada and St Lucia.

And the secret of a long and happy marriage? "You have to have understanding, tolerance and a lot of love," said Mr Buckland, while Mrs Buckland ascribed it to "give and take."