A COUPLE who were childhood sweethearts are celebrating 50 years of marriage today.

Fred and Ruby Hall, of Bedford Close, Pershore, were born and raised in Upton Snodsbury, and lived there for more thn 60 years.

The couple both went to school in the village and for years lived just a few houses away from each other.

They started exchanging letters when Mr Hall was posted to Kenya on national service in 1953, coronation year.

Mrs Hall, aged 70 said: "I lived just a few doors away from Fred and we knew each other well. We grew up together.

I started writing to him when he was posted to Africa and we became more keen about each other. When he came home a few years later that is when we started courting seriously."

They married at St Kenelms, their local church, on April 20, 18 months after getting engaged The wedding had not been planned for that day, but had to moved it due to a problem involving Mrs Hall's bridesmaids.

"As it turned out the wedding day was lovely, but we were supposed to have been married on March 23. However, my two nieces who were going to be bridesmaids had chickenpox a fortnight before, so we had to postpone it,'' said Mrs Hall.

The couple spent their honeymoon in Bournemouth.

Mrs Hall spent her working life in the accounts offices at the Metal Box factory in Perry Wood and Woodside. She was a village correspondent for the Berrow's Worcester Journal and BBC Hereford and Worcester, a member of the parish council and became closely involved with the Royal British Legion and the Mothers Union.

Mr Hall, aged 73, trained as a mechanic before being called up to do his National Service with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

When he was demobbed he worked as a mechanic for eight years, spending the rest of his working life with WH Allens gear makers, in Pinvin, Pershore.

Mr and Mrs Hall have two children, Carole-Anne and Martin, and grandsons Benjamin and Timothy.

Mrs Hall said the secret to having a long and happy marriage was to have a caring, loving and stable family life and to support each other.

Mr Hall said that he did not know what was the secret was, but if he did then he would bottle and sell it.

A golden wedding party has already been held in Pershore, attended by friends and family of the couple.