"PATIENCE" is the key to a long and successful marriage, according to a Salisbury couple celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.

On Friday Sue and Derek Blackshaw commemorated 50 years of marriage by watching Apollo 11 at Salisbury Odeon, as wedding preparations meant they missed viewing the moon landings the first time round.

The couple married at Sherborne Abbey on July 19, 1969, after they met during nurse training in Dorchester.

And only costing a total of £60, the wedding day was very busy for the couple, who created and provided everything themselves for the big day, including dresses and refreshments.

Together they moved to Salisbury in 1980, when Derek became a director of nursing for mental health and Sue a clinical nurse specialist, and had two children, Liz and Amanda, later followed by four grandchildren.

And currently living in New Zealand, Amanda returned to the city last week especially to join in with the festivities, including watching the film and having a meal with all the family.

Before the film screening, Sue said: "We've always been interested in the moon landings, but on the day we were quite busy!

"We've seen little bits on TV, but we're really looking forward to watching this now. It must have been so awful for the wives and children - I just don't know how they did it."

When asked what the key was a to a long marriage, Derek said: "She got used to me eventually," with Sue adding: "Patience and a lovely sense of humour is all you need."