A COUPLE who tied the knot in York when they were in the Army have returned to the city for the first time in nearly 50 years to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

Gary and Betty Colon, both aged 72, met at York Army Barracks in Fulford Road and married after only six weeks of knowing each other as there was a likelihood that Gary was about to be posted to Germany.

Instead of obtaining the required permission from the Army, they paid for a special licence to allow them to be married at the register office 50 years ago last Friday. Despite being in trouble when they returned to the Army, they were given an Army house in Fulford Road where they stayed for three years and where their two children were born.

About 47 years since they were last in York, the couple have enjoyed a special trip to the city, arriving last Thursday and leaving yesterday, to mark their 50th wedding anniversary.

During the trip, which was a gift from their daughter Michelle, they paid a visit to the Visitor Information Centre, in Museum Centre, which was the old register office where they got married.

Speaking at the centre, Betty said: "It's nice to come back to York.

"It has changed a lot. Certain places haven't changed.

"This building is very different."

Gary added: "The people have not changed, they are very friendly."

During their time in York, they travelled to the barracks in Fulford Road and the York Designer Outlet near Fulford, which is built on the site of a hospital where the couple's two children were born.

They also visited Castle Howard, the Yorkshire Lavender farm in Terrington, and the Edinburgh Arms pub, in York's Fishergate, which they used to go to before they moved away from York.

After they married, Betty, who was a chef in the Army, became a housewife.

Gary, who was a lance bombardier, stayed in the Army 23 years, and during that time he was posted to France, Canada, Norway and Germany twice.

He was also in the police force for 15 years and has worked in security for the past 20 years.

They now live in Dumfries in Scotland, where Betty was born and raised. Gary grew up in Swanage in Dorset.

According to Betty, the secret to a long and happy marriage is "to give and take."