An elderly Indian couple who took part in ‘one of the first’ double weddings in the UK will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary this year.


Mr Subhash Gohil, 72, and Mrs Ratanbai Gohil, 68, from Harrow were married in a twin civil ceremony at Oldham registry office on March 28 1968.


Ratanbai married alongside her sister, Manjula who was wedded to Valabh Parmar.


The two couples then held a traditional Indian wedding two months later on May 12 1968. Both ceremonies were reported in the Oldham Chronicle.


They have been married for 50 years today.


Subhash and Ratanbai have four children, Rupesh, Sanjay, Anita and Bhavisha, as well as six grandchildren.


The couple met at a wedding in 1967 and after liking each other, Subhash went to his elders to arrange a meeting. They could only communicate using red telephone boxes.


Mr Gohil says the secret to a long marriage is lots of talking.


Subhash, who ran his own business is now retired, and Ratanbai, who helped with the family business is also a housewife.


Their second eldest son, Sanjay said: “What makes this unusual is that it was one of the first Indian double weddings in the UK at the time.”


The Gohils and Parmars keep in touch and visit each other regularly.