A GULWORTHY couple will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary on the same day the nation watches Prince William and Kate Middleton start their own married life.

John Ladlow met Dorothy Fawn in Blackpool where they both attended the same Methodist church.

John was training in horticulture and Dorothy was a nurse. They married in Blackpool on April 29, 1961.

John became a gardening instructor at a Home Office approved school near Blackpool. They later moved to Northamptonshire.

For the last ten years of their working lives John managed a country estate in Oxfordshire, and Dorothy was a care services manager for Berkshire County Council.

They retired to West Devon and bought a Duke of Bedford cottage which was very run down, but after completely renovating it, the garden was featured on ITV Westcountry Garden of the Year in 2005.

They have two married sons and one grandson. John is still interested in gardening, nature, and photography and used to make rocking horses. Dorothy carried on as a part time care manager for the elderly for several years after retiring.

A party to celebrate their golden wedding is being held at the Redcliffe Hotel, Paignton.