What a good match (From Western Telegraph)

What a good match

FEW couples celebrating their golden wedding could claim to play badminton three times a week, which makes Jim and Barbara John - natives of Milford Haven who now live at Troopers Inn - a rare pair indeed.

Active 74-year-old Jim and sporty 69-year-old Barbara, are members of the Guys and Dolls Badminton Club at the Meads Sports Centre - a group renowned for all-night badminton marathons to raise money for charity.

"It's 100% important to keep active," said Jim.

"I have arthritis and I think badminton has stopped me seizing up!" Barbara also finds the sport therapeutic.

"I get rid off all my stress here!" she laughed.

The couple first met at the Trafalgar Institute in Charles Street, at a Sunday night swing session. "Back then the boys and girls used to dress up in their best rags and walk up and down Hamilton Terrace, eyeing each other up," said Barbara.

"Do you want to buy a battleship?' was Jim's first chat-up line."

The pair tied the knot in 1954. Daughters Linda and Beverley came along and now Jim and Barbara have four grandchildren - Eleanor, Andrew, Shannon and Georgia.

On Saturday, the Johns celebrated their anniversary with a party at the British Legion Club, and soon they are off to Tunisia for a holiday.

Instead of presents, Jim and Barbara asked friends and family to donate money to the Paul Sartori Foundation.

"We don't want any vases or blooming pots and pans," said Barbara. "We don't need them. Nobody knows when they're going to need Paul Sartori."

The golden couple agree that the secret of their long union is simple - they have worked hard and played hard, they share a good sense of humour and they have worked through all the things that life has thrown at them.

And they are looking forward to spending more years together.

"My mum and dad were married for 68 years, so you never know!" said Barbara.