Alan Walker took pictures of more than 1,000 weddings in his time as a professional photo- grapher.

But someone else will be taking the happy shots of himself and his wife Betty when they celebrate their golden wedding anniversary with family and friends.

The couple, both Witney born and bred, were married in the town's St Mary's Church on September 30, 1958.

The man who took their picture outside the church 50 years ago, Ernie Souch, is also — like Mr Walker — now retired from the business.

Mr Walker, 73, said: "My eyesight began to go a bit, so I now just do family stuff. But I was going to about 50 or 60 weddings a year for well over 30 years.

"Betty helped me with the organisation. I used to rush back and process negatives from the film, then get the prints done in time for the Witney Gazette and Oxford Mail."

Before going into business on their own, Mr Walker was a quantity surveyor and his wife, now 69, worked for Delnevo's electrical shop, in Corn Street.

The couple took over the newsagent's shop in Bridge Street run by his father. They also sold photographic equipment and eventually moved to High Street, setting up Alan Walker Photography. They live behind the shop, which is now run by T4 Cameras.

They have a son, Andrew, daughter, Jan, and three grandchildren, and will be holding a party at the Four Pillars Hotel, in Ducklington.