A TAUNTON couple who have been married for 50 years have put their success down to one thing - cricket.

Stuart and Monica Allbutt, Parkfield Road, say their love of the sport helped them get to their golden anniversary as it always gave them something to discuss.

The couple, who first met at a dance at the old County Hotel, were married at St John's Church in Staplegrove on May 25, 1968, before spending their honeymoon in Woolacombe.

Monica has lived all of her life in Taunton, while Stuart, from Scotland, moved to Somerset in 1964.

He said: “I was with a group of mates and we’d had a few beers. I told them that I was going to have a dance with Monica which I did and then spent the rest of the evening with her.

"At the end of the dance I asked if she wanted a lift home which she said yes to, but she didn’t realize I had a motor bike.

"Monica got on the bike with a pair of heels, her handbag and her skirt hitched up and I took her home.”

Stuart played cricket for West Somerset Hospitals and then for the Casuals at the Civil Service Club.

Monica started scoring at Staplegrove and then moved to Taunton Deane Cricket Club where she has stayed for 35 years.

She said: “Cricket sends us in different directions but we together at the end of the day and have got something in common to talk about.”