Christine and Peter Quayle, from Port Erin, have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a twist.

Instead of presents, they asked the 45 guests who attended the celebration at the Bay Green Restaurant in Castletown to bring along ’gold-themed’ goods for donation to the foodbank.

There was a wide range of items collected including 26 jars of Nescafe gold coffee, gold blend tea, jars of golden marmalade and honey, golden syrup, Terry’s all gold chocolates, golden cream biscuits, gold Christmas crackers and gold chocolate coins for children.

Speaking about how the idea came about, Christine said: ’We didn’t need any presents, and because it’s getting near Christmas we thought it would be nice for them to have some fancy things.’

Peter and Christine met in 1969 at a weekend dance at the Lyceum Ballroom in London.

Peter worked as a metropolitan police officer for 28 years, and Christine worked for the BBC as a film operation clerk.

As Peter had family on the island ’going back generations’, they thought it would be ’somewhere lovely’ to retire and moved here in 2009.

Peter, who also worked part time as a driver for local charity Care In Mann, joked that the island’s appeal was increased by its ’sandy beaches and Mediterranean climate’.

The couple have two children, Sarah and Steven.

Since moving to the island they have been active in the community - fundraising for the RNLI and becoming members of the Manx Retirement Association.

Christine is also a member of the Bradda Head and Port St Mary WIs, and Mannin Quilters.

Asked what the secret is to a happy marriage, Christine said: ’A sense of humor’ and Peter added ’Make each other laugh and respect each other’s views’.