Alan and Pam Elmes, who have lived in Eastbourne for 24 years, met in 1957 when Alan was on a day trip in Folkestone.

Although Alan's home was in Ealing, west London, he was sent to Ramsgate in Kent for the summers of 1956 and 1957 to conduct children's meetings on the beach as part of work with the Open Air Mission, an interdenominational Christian mission which held meetings around the country.

It was during that time he met the then Pamela Sadler and one week later the couple was engaged.

One year after meeting they got married and will have been married for 50 years on September 13.

The couple who have six children and eight grandchildren said, "We have had an extremely happy married life and are so thankful to God who has blessed us with good Christian friends at various churches in Eastbourne and Bexhill over the last 24 years."

The short service of thanksgiving will be at South Street Free Church, from 12noon, on Saturday September 13.