celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

The two -- who met at school in wartime London -- and were married in 1949 while Sen. Ougton was serving in the Royal Navy.

And Sen. Oughton last night summed up the secret of a long and happy marriage as "hard graft''.

He said: "One of the things today about marriage is that it's too easy to get out of them.

"And it's in the early years you really have to put the work in. You need a lot of mutual trust and understanding.

"But I've been very lucky in having a very fine lady to support me in all my endeavours.'' SENATE SENATOR SEN