FORMER Worcester Mayor Frank Poole and his wife Jane were celebrating their Golden Wedding anniversary today with their bridesmaid of 50 years ago.

And they have asked all their guests to a planned party not to give them gifts - but to make a donation to Acorns Children's Hospice instead.

Mr Poole, who was Worcester's Mayor from 1984-1985, and his wife met when his brother married her cousin, on St Patrick's Day, 1951.

Mr Poole was the best man and she was the bridesmaid, but says she was not instantly attracted to him.

"I thought he was a bit stuffy," joked Mrs Poole. "He just seemed to be aloof."

The couple began courting in July 1951 and the relationship went so well that they were engaged in November, and married in 1953, at a registry office in Birmingham.

They lived in Smethwick, Birmingham, for four years, before moving to Worcester in 1957, when Mr Poole, a BT engineer for 42 years, was transferred.

In 1960, they renewed their vows at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Bransford Road, St. John's.

The couple have lived in the same house in Drake Avenue and Mrs Poole, aged 74, worked at Kay's in Bransford Road, for 17 years.

"A lot has changed since we moved here," said Frank, 77. "For a start you used to see cattle coming down the road."

Celebrations are due to be held tomorrow at The Portobello, in Bransford Road, with around 50 guests including their three children and 10 grandchildren.

But Mrs Poole's younger sister, Pauline Coveney, 70, who was their bridesmaid, will be the guest of honour. She has flown over from Ireland especially for the celebrations.

Mr Poole said one of the highlights of their married life was when they were Mayor and Mayoress of Worcester.

"We went to Buckingham Palace with Peter Walker who was MP at the time and we met the Queen and Prince Philip.

"We even had lunch with the Queen at the Guildhall once," he said.

Added Mrs Poole: "We've had our ups and downs, but we have been very happy together."

They have asked for party guests to make donations to Acorns because "it is a very worthy cause".