A WIRRAL couple who tied the knot 50 years ago will celebrate their golden anniversary at the place were they had their wedding reception. 

Christopher and Patricia McQuarrie married at the registry office at Birkenhead Town Hall on July 12, 1965, and had the reception at Riverhill Hotel in Oxton. They will celebrate with a party at the venue.

The couple, from Birkenhead, met at the long-gone Starboard Lights nightclub in Hamilton Street, Birkenhead, in 1960 and went out for five years before deciding to wed.

Christopher, 88, was a manager at Royal Liver Insurance Building in Liverpool before retiring 27 years. Patricia, 83, was a shop assistant. They have no children.

On deciding to celebrate their anniversary at the Riverhill, Christopher told the Globe: "We started our married life there and celebrated our 30th, 40th and 45th anniversaries there, so we couldn't celebrate our 50th by going anywhere else.  

Looking back on the 50 years Patricia told the Globe: "We got married at the registry office in Birkenhead, but had the marriage blessed by a reverend Young at what was then Prenton Congregational Church.

"We'd both been married before we met, so to re-marry after getting divorced was frowned upon in those days.  But reverend Young was happy to marry us.

"We didn't have a honeymoon, couldn't afford one. But we've enjoyed many happy holidays since."

On the secret of a long, happy marriage, Christopher said: "We disagree with eachother on some things, but we never row.

"We've had a good life together and are looking to enjoy quite a few more years."