Variety has been the spice of life for Jean and Brian Freeman, who celebrate their golden wedding today.

Since they married at Oxford Register Office they have lived in caravans and toured in caravans, lived for three years in Spain, run guest houses, fostered pre-adoption babies, had a taxi business in Oxford and ran a caravan and chalet park before retiring to a log cabin at Benson.

And at other times Mrs Freeman (nee Heather) has been a caretaker at Benson Primary School and secretary to the director of nursing at Fair Mile Hospital, near Cholsey.

Mrs Freeman, 69, was born in Stadhampton and Mr Freeman, 72, in Swindon. They met at Stadhampton youth club, after Mr Freeman's family bought the village bakery.

They started their married life in a caravan in Marston, moved to Benson and then afterwards lived in Iffley Road Oxford; near Lancaster; in Southport; Cowley; Wheatley; and back to Benson.

Mr Freeman worked at Morris Motors in Cowley for much of his working life before becoming a partner in a building firm.

The couple have two sons and a daughter.

They will celebrate with a family party at the Coach and Horses in Chiselhampton — and a special guest will be their best man from 50 years ago, Ken Ayres, who lives in Chalgrove.

Mrs Freeman said: "There has been a lot of variety in our lives but much of it was a big struggle, doing anything to make sure the money was coming in. But we survived and it has been a good life."