BUILDER Samuel Fox put down his most solid foundations on the day he tied the knot with his wife, Elsie.

After courting for eight months, the couple were married at St Mary's Church, Great Sankey.

Fifty happy years later, Samuel and Elsie will be celebrating their golden wedding anniversary on Monday, April 7.

Samuel, aged 78, and 74-year-old Elsie live in Cinnamon Lane, Fearnhead, and they will be enjoying a family get-together to mark their special day.

The couple, who were both born in Warrington, have four daughters, two sons and 13 grandchildren.

During the war, Samuel served in North Africa, Italy and Austria with the Royal Engineers, while Elsie worked at the munitions factory in Risley.

Samuel also spent 50 years working in the building trade, ending up as a clerk of works.

In his younger days, Samuel was keen on rugby league and walking, and he says that his favourite rugby player was former Warrington centre Billy Dingsdale.

Nowadays his main pastime is playing bowls at The Stag, while Elsie enjoys nothing more than spending time with her family.

According to Samuel, the secret of a long and happy marriage is "having a united family."

He added: "To maintain that you sometimes have to eat a bit of humble pie and then get up and ask for a second helping!"

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.