A LOVED-UP Droitwich couple who have helped raise hundreds of pounds for a Worcester-based charity are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.

Susan and John Fletcher, of Hiraeth, Showell Road, have supported St Richard’s Hospice ever since their son Paul died of cancer in 2010.

The couple who celebrated their anniversary on Friday, March 16, regularly open up their garden, take part in sponsored walks and hold bucket collections around the town's pubs in aid of the charity.

Mrs Fletcher, aged 68, has also knitted 500 woollen scarves to raise additional funds.

Mrs and Mr Fletcher met at The Salvation Army at Redditch aged 13 and 14 respectively and were members of the Junior Sections, later the Senior Band and Songsters, and were also responsible for the running of the Sunday school for several years in their late teens and early twenties.

They were engaged at 15 and 16 and married at The Congregational Church in Redditch, long since demolished, by Brigadier Lincoln Parkhouse in a Salvation Army wedding service on March 16 1968.

Their first home together was in The Drive, Beaufort Street, Redditch and their family started to arrive fourteen months later with Jane first followed by Andrew and Rachel, all born at home.

Their fourth child, Paul, was born in Droitwich in August 1976, but sadly died of several cancers, aged 34.

The couple ‘adopted’ a further daughter, Giulia aged 15, 20 years ago, when her mum sadly passed away and she lived in their home for several years until she moved out into her own flat and then married her husband Simon.

Mr Fletcher, aged 69, took a job with Inductotherm Europe Ltd in Droitwich in November 1974 and the family moved to Droitwich in mid 1975.

He was employed in the accounting department at Inductotherm for 42 years, initially as assistant company secretary, later as chief accountant and then for his last 21 years as finance director.

Mrs Fletcher worked for the company, in various roles within accounting for over 30 years, either part or full-time and they both retired in June 2016.

The secret of their long happy marriage John feels is due to the ‘unofficial’ contract John says they agreed on honeymoon in London.

Susan was to be responsible for any activity ending in ‘ing’ eg. cleaning, washing, housekeeping, gardening, driving, shopping, dusting, child-minding, visiting etc.

John was to be responsible for anything that could not be made to end with ‘ing’- he currently cannot give an example.

The couple are currently arranging a second charity concert in Pershore Abbey on September 29 with the world-famous Morriston Orpheus Male Choir.

They have four grandchildren Megan, Harry, Jack and George.

Mrs Fletcher was born in Ystrad Mynach, South Wales and moved to Headless Cross, Redditch aged 13 and John was born in Feckenham and spent most of his childhood living with his parents in Webheath.