CHILDHOOD friends have met up to reminisce and celebrate a staggering 200 years of wedded bliss between them.

Former Worcester couple Linda and John Keatley, who emigrated to Australia 16 years ago, flew back to the city to visit friends and family, and got together for a celebratory lunch with lifelong friends.

"We're all getting older and this could be the last time we come back to Worcester," said Mrs Keatley, who grew up in Waverley Street.

They are currently staying in the street with Alf and Iris Lee, who had their Golden Wedding in August last year.

"My husband and I thought having lunch together would be a nice way of celebrating all our marriages," said Mrs Keatley, who married on March 10, 1951.

"We've kept in touch over the years, but letters aren't the same as getting together."

The two other couples who met for lunch were Ray and Jean Green, who were married in August, 1951 and Do and Reg Thompson, who tied the knot in January 1950.

The couples have known each other since childhood - three worked together at Cadbury's and were each other's bridesmaids.

"We go back a long way, even the boys grew-up together," said Mrs Keatley.

"They would try and get the same leave when they were in the forces."

She and her husband emigrated to Perth, in Western Australia, following a holiday in the country. One of their sons lives out there, while another lives at Lower Moor, near Pershore.

"It's nice to get back and see everyone," said Mrs Keatley.

"We've been around the country visiting relatives and we only came up with the idea of holding a celebratory lunch a few days ago."

They all met up at the March Hare, Broughton Hackett, near Worcester, yesterday to toast each other's successes.

"It's wonderful that we're all together after so many years," said Mrs Keatley.