FIFTY years on and still going strong for Basil and Helen Wright who are due to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary on Saturday.

Basil, 75, met Helen, 74, while they were both studying a history degree at the University College of London. They were both out partying on Rag week and the tradition was to go along in a procession. The couple from Roysten Park Road in Hatch End were both in the same lorry and described their meeting as love at first sight.

After leaving university Basil started working in Lyolds bank where he became senior branch manager. Helen worked as a foreign correspondent in Anthony Gibson and Sons. They married in 1954 and have two children Andrew, 44, and Carole, 42, and two grandchildren, James, 7, and Daniel, 17.

Basil's hobby in his younger days was soccer and he played for his banks first team. Helen was also a languages teacher at Hatch End High School for 26 years.

Helen said: "We have kept friends as well as everything else that is involved in marriage. Basil is my best friend, the person I most want to do things with."

Daniel Wright said: "My grandparents are brilliant, I have never seen them arguing and they always seem so happy."

Carole Wright said: "They are the best parents anyone could wish for they have been very supportive to me."

During the past twenty years Basil and Helen took up Latin and ballroom dancing. They took lessons and ended up competing all over the country at senior amateur grade. Now Basil likes to practice bowls while Helen likes to piant and she attends art classes twice a week.

They are celebrating their anniversay at Blue Chequers in Bushey with family and friends on Saturday evening.

They plan to go travellling in the future.