Gerry and Doreen Smith, who have been married 50 years

A CELEBRATORY cruise was nearly sunk for one Basingstoke couple toasting their wedding anniversary.

Gerry Smith had organised a romantic holiday to mark 50 years of marriage to his wife Doreen.

But shortly before packing their bags, the operator said the ticket was void because it had "Gerry" stamped on it rather than the name Gerald written in his passport.

Thankfully, the couple's holiday got back on course after the paperwork was changed in time for them to board the ship in Southampton and head off to the sunny Canary Islands.

Gerry was 23 and Doreen just 18 when they first met each other, dancing the night away in Catford's Savoy hall.

Doreen recalls being dazzled by her partner-to-be. She said: "He was always so smart, always wearing a handkerchief in his pocket."

Londoner Gerry said he made the first move, taking Doreen on their first date to the pictures.

He said: "We got to know each other and were best friends and one thing just led to another."

Gerry was in the construction business when he tied the knot with Doreen at St Mary's Church in Lewisham. And together they decided to build a future in Basingstoke, settling in the Brighton Hill area.

The happy couple have a large family, including seven children, 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Doreen said that, like all marriages, theirs has not been plain sailing, but she added that they have always worked their way through choppy waters.

She said: "We had our problems, like a shortage of money with having seven kids, but we found ways around it.

"I think the problem with couples today is that they don't stop and talk their troubles through."

Gerry agreed and said the secret behind their long marriage was that they took the "rough with the smooth".

But he joked: "Every time I tried to get away, the door was locked."

10:33am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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