FORMER Rossendale first citizens Paddy and Anne Navin are celebrating 50 years of marriage today with a party at the Royal Hotel in Waterfoot.

The couple, who live at Tong Lane, Bacup, were the Mayor and Mayoress of Rossendale from 1987 to 1988 and the former commando said being elected mayor was more nerve-racking than his war experiences.

It was shortly after leaving the Army in 1949 that Paddy, 80, met Anne at a dance hall in Rochdale.

A year later they were married at St Patrick's Church, Rochdale,

Anne, 77, worked in the slipper trade for many years and then in the school kitchens at St Mary's RC School, Bacup. Paddy worked as an overhead wire man with Bacup Radio Relay Vision and later became a self-employed aerial fitter.

He is best known for the 23 years he served as a Bacup councillor firstly with the Conservatives, but he split from the party and joined Labour in 1978. He also served as a county councillor for many years.

After he was de-selected by the Labour Party and failed to be elected when he stood as an Independent in 1988, Bacup-born Paddy opted to write his memoirs which were published in 1991.

Although his book -- A Rossendale Valley Life -- is currently out of print, it sold well and there is still a copy at the local library.

His parents died when he was very young and he was brought up by his grandmother. At 16 he lied about his age to get into the Army as a gunner and in 1941 he joined the Commandos.

The couple have two children Christine, a nursing sister in Prestwich and Peter, a deep sea diver in Thailand and two grandchildren John, 24, and Mark, 26.

He said the secret to a long and happy marriage is give and taking.