WHEN chivalrous Darryl Russell walked his friend Marjorie home from the school dance, he did not know that it would end in 50 years of love.

Darryl and Marjorie, who celebrate their golden wedding today, Saturday, both attended Minchinhampton Primary School but did not know each other well until they moved on to Brimscombe Polytechnic School.

It was walking home together after the dance that the pair got to know each other.

They fell in love and decided to get married at Holy Trinity Church in Minchinhampton and planned a trip to Bournemouth for their honeymoon.

But a few weeks before the wedding Darryl was called up for national service.

The army agreed that as the wedding was planned it could go ahead but Darryl would have to leave for Germany with the First Gloucester Regiment the next day.

Marjorie had to wave goodbye to her new love and cancel their honeymoon.

"It was heartbreaking, we had only just got married and I had to say goodbye to him," said Marjorie.

"I was quite lonely but I knew he would be coming back to me."

When Darryl returned, he worked as a stone mason at Avon Construction, where he continued for more than 25 years.

The couple had two daughters, Karen and Beverley, and Marjorie decided she needed a challenge.

When she heard that Cherington Post Office and Stores was up for sale she persuaded Darryl that she could run it.

And she did until a few years ago, when the couple moved back to Dr Browns Close in Minchinhampton to look after Marjorie's mother.

The pair now have five grandchildren and are part of Minchinhampton's Stuart Singers.

Marjorie, 69 and Darryl, 70 will celebrate today with a family lunch at the Halfway House in Box, and on Monday they will leave for Bournemouth to take the honeymoon they never had.