Cream of the crop!

Christopher Riley, who had moved to St John's, Worcester from Lancashire for his job as a milkman met his wife-to-be Hazel when delivering milk to her door.

"She was 15 at the time, I thought she was stunning," said the 72-year-old. "I asked her to go to the cinema in St John's.

"We got on really well, we have always had the same sort of interests." And Hazel said she thought her husband-to-be was great.

"I was really attracted to him," said the 70-year-old. "When we were courting we went cycling and walking a lot."

The happy couple tied the knot nearly five years later at St John in Bedwardine church, St John's, Worcester, on August 8, 1953, and enjoyed glorious weather for their honeymoon in Weymouth.

Christopher then worked for Davenport Brewery, where he became a deliveryman, assistant manager, and manager.

Hazel worked in an office at Heenan and Froude after leaving school and was later employed at Metal Box.

The couple, who have three children and five grandchildren, also fostered around 25 children in the late 1960s for a decade.

Caravan holidays

The foster children ranged from babies to nine years old.

"We became attached to one baby and would like to have adopted him but his mother wanted him back," said Hazel, who has been working part-time at D R Tansell Repairs, Diglis Road, Worcester, for 24 years.

Christopher worked for Davenports Brewery for 32 years in Worcester and Peterborough until the age of 55. He then drove Midland Red buses for a decade.

He now works part-time for Bedwardine Funeral Services.

"I was carrying passengers alive and now I'm carrying them dead!" he said.

The couple, who enjoy caravan holidays, have lived at their present address in Oakfield Drive, Kempsey for more than 19 years.

"The secret recipe for success is to work at it," said Hazel. "Don't give up at the slightest argument."

Christopher and Hazel were due to celebrate today with friends, family and work colleagues at The Crown Inn, Kempsey.