A HEREFORDSHIRE couple marked their golden wedding by going back to the church where they made their vows.

Retired police constable Cyril Joyce and his wife Eve (seen left) sat quietly in the front pew of St Martin's Church, Hereford, on Saturday morning, remembering their special day and their happy 50 years together.

They relived their reception by enjoying a lunch at the Imperial, in Widemarsh Street, where, in 1950, their marriage had been celebrated.Then the couple, who live at Verschoyle Gardens, in Ross-on-Wye, went on a shopping spree. Cyril bought Eve a gold necklace and she gave him a gold signet ring.

The evening was spent enjoying a champagne dinner with family and friends, including sons Clive and Stephen and their wives, Elaine and Lynda, and grandson Christopher.

Cyril had joined the police force in 1949 and through his 30-year career had been based at Hereford, Eaton Bishop, Clehonger, Ledbury and finally Ross. He was one of only seven people in Ross to receive the Queen's Jubilee medal for public service.

He met Eve Moore at a Christmas dance in 1948 at the Hereford Hostel at Redhill, where she worked as a stewardess.