FIFTY years of marriage was the last thing they expected when an Abbots Langley couple met at a town hall dance.

Audrey and John Grieves, of Manor House Gardens celebrated their golden wedding anniversary this week with their children and grandchildren, during an emotional party in St Albans.

Audrey, 76, was at the Watford Town Hall dance with a friend, when John approached her and asked her to dance.

John, a retired draftsman, said: “My first impression of Audrey was that she was a nice, tidy looking young girl.

“I thought she looked very clean and tidy and I asked her to dance with me.”

The couple have lived in their Abbots Langley home for all of their married life, raising their two daughters, Tessa and Philippa, there.

They married in St Paul’s Church in Langleybury on September 27, 1958.

Audrey said: “We had the most beautiful wedding day.

“I remember it so clearly, we had had rain for the last few weeks but, on the day, it was warm and sunny.

“We had all our friends and family around us, and that is what made it so special.

“I wore a Nottingham lace wedding dress from Claridges, which is where my mother worked and John looked very much like he does today.”

The couple’s reception was held at the Langley Hotel, in Hempstead Road, which is now a pub, and they spent their honeymoon in the West Country.

John, 80, said: “Marriage is all about having tolerance, giving and taking and also learning when not to say something.

“The secret to our marriage has been working together through the good times and the bad times and always sticking together.

“Having the girls has been the highlight of these 50 years and our lovely grandchildren, who we treasure.”

Audrey, who used to work at Leavesden Hospital, explained that she enjoyed her working days, helping people.

She also worked at a children’s playgroup in Hillside Hall in the village.

The couple have travelled as far as Australia together, where their daughter, Philippa, now lives with her husband and son, Edward.

Audrey said: “We have been to Australia four times, it is fantastic, and Portugal and France.”

John said that the things he loves about his wife are her ability to “keep everything in check” and her housekeeping skills.

Audrey said: “Well I never thought we would reach 50 years, we argue, but we always make up and I have learnt to keep quiet sometimes, over the years.

“I love John because he is a very kind person, he is very helpful around the house, even though I do not always show him that I appreciate what he does.

“I have the most wonderful husband, he is so caring and I even get a cup of tea every morning.”

Tessa said: “Mum and dad were always very open and communicative, they are very honest people and celebrating their golden wedding is very emotional indeed.”