A MUTUAL love of horses brought stable hands Brenda and Raymond White together.

The pair met at Frank Cundell’s stables at Aston Tirrold when Brenda, nee Bodger, was just 16.

The couple, from Wallingford, celebrated 50 years of married life at the weekend — 10 years after renewing their vows.

Mrs White said: “We both worked at the racing yard and Ray drove the horsebox. I think he was getting a horse ready when I first saw him and I was eyeing him up with all the others.”

The pair married three years later, in 1959, at St Michael’s Church in the village and set up home in Thorpe Street.

Mrs White, 69, said: “My husband never had lots of winners, but the day we got married, his horse won and Frank Cundell said we must have given him a bit of luck.

“Ray was always quite shy but he was very good looking. We used to go to local pubs, The Boot, as it was then, and The Chequers and did most things together.”

With five children, Anita, David, Martin, Graham and Lorna, the pair left the racing world in 1974, and moved to Station Road, Wallingford.

Mr White took a job at building firm Hipperson. Mrs White worked as a manager of Dorchester Co-op and then as a housekeeper and cleaner at Wallingford Community Hospital before retiring.

Mr White, 75, said: “It was just about love at first sight.

“I’ve always liked her honesty. We’ve had our ups and downs but we’ve got through it.”

She added: “Our only regret is leaving the racing world because it’s such a close-knit community and everyone knows each other. You are like a family.”

The couple, who have 14 grandchildren and one great-grandson, celebrated the milestone anniversary on Saturday with a family party.

eallen@nqo.com