A COUPLE who met at Wallerscote ICI works in 1946 are celebrating 50 years of happy chemistry.

Frank and Vera Gleave of Clitheroe Road, Weaverham, are commemorating their golden wedding this Saturday.

Frank had taken a job as a fitter at the Wallerscote works after three years in the Royal Navy when he first met 16-year-old canteen assistant Vera.

However, the pair couldn't start going out for two years, until Vera was 18. Vera explained: "My dad would have killed me if I had started courting before I was 18!"

But the wait was worth it and their first date at the Regal Cinema in Northwich, was to be the start of a long-lived friendship.

Vera said: "I'd been waiting for him since the first time I set eyes on him."

The couple were married at St Wilfrid's Catholic Church in Northwich on what they say was a lovely warm autumn day.

After 50 years, they now have three children and six grandchildren.

The pair put their enduring success down to their togetherness, friendship and honesty.

Frank said: "You've got to pull together, and it helps that we like the same kind of things."

Vera added: "We've never had any secrets from each other - we've been very happy together."

The couple now plan to mark the event with celebrations for family and friends at both Winnington Hall and their daughter's house over the weekend.