WAITING in a cinema queue might not sound like the most romantic of settings.But it led to true love for Ipswich couple Eric and Pauline Walker, of Tasmania Road, who have just celebrated their Golden Wedding.

WAITING in a cinema queue might not sound like the most romantic of settings.

But it led to true love for Ipswich couple Eric and Pauline Walker, of Tasmania Road, who have just celebrated their Golden Wedding.

"It was a very cold Saturday night and we were both standing in the queue outside the Ritz in the Buttermarket, waiting for them to open the doors," recalled Eric, 73.

"We got talking and that was the start of it. When we met, I was 20 and just out of the RAF and Pauline was only 17."

The couple got married at St Augustine's Church in Felixstowe Road. "It was bitterly cold and there wasn't as much sunshine as we have had recently," said Eric.

They spent a long weekend in London for their honeymoon, but didn't want to stay away too long because of the Christmas festivities.

Until retirement, Eric worked as an accountant for Ransomes, Sims and Jeffries.

Pauline, who is now 70, also worked for Ransomes before having their three children, Jane, Jonathan and Jeremy. She later returned to work as cook in charge at St Alban's High School in Ipswich.

Mr and Mrs Walker celebrated their golden anniversary with a meal at the Ufford Crown together with their children and their five grandchildren. Their best man and bridesmaid, Audrey and Derek Gaskin, who got married earlier the same year, also came along.

The couple are both keen ramblers, and Mr Walker said: "We joke that we should only go out as a pair, because my hearing and Pauline's eyesight are not so good, so we can help each other out!

"We have had 50 happy years and my dear wife turned out to be everything I hoped for."

He said the secret of a happy marriage was never to let the sun go down on an argument. "And never hold back on words of love – if it occurs to you, just say it."