A COUPLE from Chard raise a glass to 50 years of marriage today (July 1).

Frank and Jean Huddy, of Forton Road, married in Honiton.

Frank, 81, kept the village stores at Chardstock and Jean, 72, ran the corner stores at Tatworth for several years.

They have two children, Wesley and Georgia, and two grandchildren.

After marrying, the couple formed the Double H Entertainment Agency, booking many big names to the South-West over a 20-year period.

They also led the Tony Graham Combo, a top local band which played throughout the south of England.

Frank was a keen cricketer, playing for Chardstock, where he took 1,100 wickets, 300 catches and scored about 8,000 runs. Jean is a keen gardener and also makes Honiton lace.

They are both New Orleans jazz fans and still travel to festivals around the region.