NOT having arguments is the key to success for one Matson couple who are celebrating 50 years of marriage.

Pat and John Carpenter of Bazeley Road will be celebrating their golden wedding anniversary on Friday after being introduced by Pat's sister when she was just 15.

Pat, 69, said: "I met him through my sister Fay, because her husband-to-be at the time, and John were friends. We met when I was 15 but then he went off to Cyprus with the Army but I met him again when he came back."

The couple married in 1960 at St Aldate's Church in Finlay Road.

Pat and John, 73, soon had two sons David and Mark, and sons Stephen and Paul, who both died when they were babies.

Pat said: "Stephen died when he was 14 months old from a hole in the heart and Paul died at six-weeks because he was premature. It was hard times but we worked through it together."

Pat, who used to work at Woolworths in Eastgate Street, and John, a former engineer for Eroga in Eastern Avenue, have one grandchild and two step-grandchildren.

They say the key to success is not arguing.

Pat said: "We don't row, honestly, we just don't have disagreements we never have. I always say you should never argue over money and anything we have is both of ours, we always share everything."

To celebrate the milestone the couple will celebrate with the nearest and dearest.

Pat added: "We are having a family meal on Friday and then we are all going out on Saturday to a party."