OXFORD'S former Lord Mayor Bill Baker and his wife Vicky are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

Mr Baker, a former leader of Oxford City Council, has lived in Meadow Lane, off Donnington Bridge Road, since 1939, and met his wife at a neighbour's house.

The couple were married in Beckley village church on August 24, 1957. Mr Baker was 22, and his fiancée 21.

They celebrated their anniversary with a party for family and friends at Donnington Community Centre.

The couple have three sons, three grandsons and three step-grandsons.

Mr Baker said: "Our first date was going to the pictures at the old Super Cinema in Magdalen Street but we spent so much time necking I can't remember the name of the film.

"Everyone has some ups and downs, but the last 50 years have been absolutely fine."

Mr Baker was a Labour city councillor for 20 years. One of the highlights was giving South African leader Nelson Mandela the Freedom of the City at the town hall.

Mr Baker retired as a councillor last year through ill health and said he missed contributing to local politics, although he remains chairman of Donnington Bridge Community Centre's federation.

Mrs Baker is well known for her charity work at Sobell House hospice.

She said: "When we first got together some of the neighbours said we would not last a year and we have certainly proved them wrong."