A love of dancing brought them together and the ability to “give and take” has kept them happily married for 50 years.

Ron and Shirley Bradbury, both 71, of Lockheart Crescent, Cowley, shared their golden wedding anniversary with their eight grandchildren and great-grand daughter.

Mrs Bradbury, n´ee Deadman, was born in Circus Street, East Oxford, and met her husband at a dance class in 1954.

She said: “We first got together through dancing and then I met him again at a friend’s party.

“We used to go to the Oxford School of Dancing which was above Boswells on the corner of Cornmarket and Broad Street.

“When Ron was 18 he had to do his National Service, and we got engaged when we were 19 and married when we were 21.”

The pair were married on October 25, 1958, at the Register Office in St Giles and held their reception at Mrs Bradbury’s sister’s house off St Aldate’s in the centre of Oxford.

Mr Bradbury, who was born in Rymers Lane, Cowley, and was stationed in Aldershot and Chester during his time as a nurse in the army, worked at the Pressed Steel plant in Cowley for 25 years.

The couple had three children — Mark, now 49, Paula, 47, and Ian, 40 — before Mrs Bradbury began a 25-year career in the Morris Motors trim shop.

In 1991, she began work at B&Q in Cowley and stayed there until retiring 12 years later.

The Bradbury family celebrated Ron and Shirley’s anniversary at the Oxy Chinese restaurant at the Ozone complex last month.

Mr Bradbury, a lifelong Oxford United fan whose father Bill played in goal for Headington United, said: “It was a very nice occasion with all the grandchildren and our great-granddaughter.”

Asked for the secret of a long and successful marriage, Mrs Bradbury said: “Give and take is what you need. He says I’m the boss, but I’m not sure about that. ”

Mr Bradbury said: “You have your arguments, but you need to talk about it and get over them.”