Isle of Wight's Haseley Manor owners mark 50 years of marriage

Professor Anthony and Doctor Vivian Roberts met in August 1971, in Oxford, after a friend introduced them.

Anthony had a house in the city, where he was a student, and Vivian was looking for somewhere to rent a room.

The couple got engaged on January 1, 1972, in Scotland.

The couple on their wedding day.

They were married on March 24, 1972, at the registry office at Cambridge Castle.

Vivian worked as a GP and Anthony was a surgeon, playing a key role in four wars and six world disasters.

He has writen a book about his time as a surgeon at war, with is currently with publishers and a date no set for release.

The couple have two daughters and four grandchildren and have lived at Haseley Manor in Arreton for the last 21 years.

Anthony’s connection with the Island dates to 1948, when he visited a cub camp. He later became county commissioner, stepping down in 2014.

From 1962, he was a regular sailor at Sea View Yacht Club.

To mark their golden wedding anniversary, the couple hosted 75 friends, on the weekend of March 26 and 27.

Some travelled from as far as South Africa, Scotland and all across England, to be there.

The couple also planted an English oak tree, for The Queen's Green Canopy.

When asked for the secret to a long and happy marriage, Anthony said: "We were both working, so we rarely got to see each other for the first 30 years.

"In those days, doctors worked 70 hours a week, so we met occasionally!"

When asked whether staying out of each other’s way was the true secret, he replied, "absolutely!"

"We had both vowed that we would never marry doctors, however, it happened. It certainly made life easier working in the same career."