IT won't last! The words rang in the ears of Joy and Ray Turner as they took their wedding vows, aged just 17 and 19 respectively.

Fifty-years later they can safely say they proved their critics wrong, as they celebrate their Golden Wedding anniversary today.

"Our song became Too Young by Nat King Cole because every time we played it we thought of the people who said 'it won't last'," said Ray, aged 69, a Worcester City councillor for St John's and the Mayor of Worcester in 1991 and 1992.

The couple, who had only known each other five months, were married at the register office in Joy's home city Birmingham, with just immediate family present.

But after the wedding, Ray, who had joined the Royal Navy two years before and had already travelled "all over the world", was sent to Korea as a gunner, and did not see his new bride for two-and-a-half years.

On leaving the Navy, he worked as a universal grinder at Burman Engineering in King's Norton, Birmingham.

Joy worked at Cadburys in Bournville "on and off", in between looking after the couple's two sons and four daughters.

In 1979, Ray was made redundant and they moved to Worcester, which was "one of the greatest things we ever did".

"We've made more friends and done more things than we've ever done before," said Ray.

Joy worked as a cook for the Severn Motor Yacht Club at Clerkenleap, the Ministry of Defence at Whittington and the Worcester Blind College (now RNIB New College).

Ray went to work at Morganite Crucible, in Norton, where he was an active union member.

Also a keen environmentalist, he is a "great believer" in recycling and waste management. He was first elected to Worcester City Council in for St Barnabas ward.

During his 18 months as mayor - he took over from the previous mayor mid-term - Ray was instrumental in the naming of the Sabrina footbridge over the River Severn.

At the bridge's opening, the couple, from Northfield Street, Arboretum, who were keen cyclists before Joy developed arthritis, cycled over the bridge on a tandem, dressed in "full riding gear".

They would regularly cycle around the Cotswolds and had also been very keen dancers, dancing "up to four times a week" and reaching International standard in Latin and Ballroom.

Ray, who took early retirement in 1993, was chairman of the Worcestershire Association for the Blind for nine years, and the couple both serve on the regional committee of the Co-op, now called CWS Group.

The Turners, who are both vegetarians, believe "love, friendship, loyalty, respect and never going to bed on an argument" are what makes a happy marriage. They celebrated their anniversary last week, by going out for an Indian meal together.

They will also celebrate this weekend with a "surprise" party being organised by their children.