THE secret of a long and happy marriage is compromise.

That is the message from Tom and Doreen Walsh as they celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

Tom met Doreen at a function at Queen's Hall, Darwen Street, Blackburn, when he was 30 and she was 19. They married at Queen's Hall Methodist Church three years later on Sunday June 22 1953.

Tom, 82, a leaded lights craftsman by trade, worked for Blackburn Stained Glass until he retired. He now splits his time between reading, listening to music and attending painting and computing courses at Blackburn College.

Doreen, 70, worked in the office at Thwaites brewery in Blackburn after she marred and gave a lot of her spare time to the Methodist church and its Junior Missions For All organisation that helps third world countries.

They have always lived in the same house on Foxhouse Street, Blackburn, and have two children Gordon, 44, Christine, 49, and two grandchildren Yolandie, 19, and Laura, 16.

The couple celebrated their happy day with family at Sparth House Hotel, in Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors.