A GOLDEN couple who got engaged at the top of Worcester cathedral are celebrating fifty years of marriage.

Malcolm and Diane Styles tied the knot at St Stephen's Church off Droitwich Road on September 2, 1967 after Mr Styles popped the question on their dinner break a little under two years earlier.

Mrs Styles is celebrating the milestone by wearing the same dress she wore on the big day 50 years ago.

The couple, of Bevere Close, Worcester, first met in 1964 at the Rio Cafe on New Street, a time Mr Styles remembers fondly.

"It was just a true old-fashioned courtship," he said.

"We've been side-by-side ever since."

A little over a month later they went on their first date to see Cliff Richard in Wonderful Life at the Gaumont cinema, Foregate Street.

Mr Styles said: "The film was obviously a good omen because life has been and still is wonderful."

At the time, Mr Styles was an apprentice engineer at Newick Engineering and Mrs Styles worked at GUS operating a comptometer and later as a shorthand typist.

Their wedding reception took place at the Co-op building in Worcester before they honeymooned on the Norfolk Broads.

They couple still attend the church they got married in.

Mrs Styles is a prominent member of St Stephens where she attends services most Sundays and helps fundraise and prepare food for events.

They first lived together in a flat in the Arboretum and moved into the first home in St Johns in 1970 staying there for five years. They then moved into a house in Ombersley Road where they stayed for 31 years.

During their time in St Johns, they welcomed two sons, Tony in 1972 and Richard two years later.

Mrs Styles gave up work and dedicated her time to raising the family.

In the meantime, Mr Styles was now at precision engineering firm R A Cookson & Co. Ltd. where he worked his way up from the shopfloor to director and finally managing director.

He later started his own business, Styles Precision Company, which his son Tony now runs.

Mr and Mr Styles have worked together for the majority of their marriage.

Whilst at R A Cookson & Co, Mrs Styles was also employed as a secretary.

As Mr Styles started Styles Precision Company, Mrs Styles did the secretarial work.

Travelling has become something they most enjoying doing together.

They didn't travel abroad until their silver wedding anniversary where they went to Tenerife as Mrs Styles was scared of flying.

After overcoming that fear, they have travelled to Australia, Thailand, India and Mauritius.

They have visited Tenerife regularly ever since that first trip and now go almost every year.

Mr and Mrs Styles also went on their first cruise together around the Mediterranean last year.

As a keen photographer, Mr Styles has had much to document on their many trips around the world.

"I've always been interested in photography but I got my first decent camera when we booked our trip to Australia."

On the secret to a successful marriage, Mr Styles said: "We've just always been there for each other."