A dose of chicken pox led to a proposal of marriage for one Bicester woman – and now the couple have just celebrated 50 years together.

Brian Sansome and Jacqueline Pinney met when they were sweet 16 hanging around on the streets of Ambrosden, near Bicester.

The pair, now both 72, dated for several years and kept in touch when Mr Sansome did his National Service in Germany.

It was just before he set off to teacher training at Shoredtich College, near Runnymede, Surrey, that he popped the question.

Former office worker Mrs Sansome, of Maple Road, Bicester, said: “I was ill with chicken pox and my mum let him come up to my bedroom, and he said ‘shall we get married?’”

The couple married two years later and have five children.

Mr Sansome taught technology for 32 years at Gosford Hill School in Kidlington. He was also a keen cricket and football player and played for Bicester, Marsh Gibbon and Brill in his time.

As the children were growing up Mrs Sansome became a foster carer and over four years looked after abandoned babies before they were adopted.

Asked what the secret to a long and happy marriage was, Mr Sansome said: “I think probably let the woman think she’s in charge.”

To celebrate their golden wedding anniversary Mr Sansome bought his wife a white gold diamond ring and later this year to couple are heading off on a Mediterranean cruise.