‘HAPPINESS is not a destination, it’s a way of life,’ says the plaque on Joyce and Barry Lambert’s home.

The phrase perfectly encapsulates the positive attitude to life of a couple who are celebrating 50 happy years together.

Joyce and Barry, from Townshend Road, Lostock Gralam, are huge fans of 60s music, and saw many famous names when they were young, including The Beatles and Billy Fury.

They enjoy going on holiday, their favourite destination being Turkey, which they visit every year, and Joyce’s dream is riding one of the most famous highways in the world.

“My ambition is to ride Route 66 in America on the back of a Harley, and if my lottery numbers come up I will be there,” she said.

Joyce, 69, and Barry, 70, were married on March 6, 1965 at Lostock Church, and are due to fly out to Benidorm for a week with family members to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

“We met on the 28th of January 1960 at the Regal Cinema in Northwich, which was showing I’m All Right Jack with Peter Sellers,” said Joyce.

“I went with my friend Chris, and Barry went with his cousin Alan.

“We had bought 1/9 tickets and went to sit in the 2/9 seats in the back, like people did, before being moved to the front right behind Barry and Alan.

“We got chatting and he walked me to the bus stop after the film. It was love at first sight, and we have been together every day ever since.”

They spent their honeymoon, which cost 22 guineas, in Blackpool, staying in the Butlins Metropole hotel, which unknown to them was a favourite destination for honeymooners, and they were one of 150 newly-married couples staying there.

Joyce was a secretary before she was married, and after a break of 10 years to bring up her family worked as a cook for 22 years at Crossways elderly persons home in Lostock, followed by eight years as a cook at a local children’s nursery.

Before retiring Barry was a stacker truck driver at Morrisons distribution centre for 12 years following 24 years in the maintenance department at ICI.

“We used to go to the Masonic Hall in Northwich every Saturday, and saw lots of groups, including The Beatles twice, Freddie and the Dreamers, Gene Vincent and Helen Shapiro,” said Joyce.

“Helen was only 14 at the time, and I had a cup of tea with her during the interval at a restaurant next to the hall.”

The couple have enjoyed caravanning and line dancing, and sharing interests is one of the keys to their long and happy marriage.

“We do everything together, put each other first and laugh a lot,” said Joyce.

“Looking back over our married life I would do it all again tomorrow. We have had the best life ever, and have lived in the best time.”

The couple have three children, Julie, Tracey and Jason, who live locally, seven grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren.