FARMING and everything to do with the countryside has been the life of Robert and Gwendoline Powlesland who celebrate their golden wedding anniversary this month.

They were married at Drewsteignton Church on October 21, 1959. Mrs Powlesland, nee Vile, grew up in the village where her parents were farming at Upperton. She went to school at Drewsteignton and then Chagford.

Mr Powlesland's family were at Coursebeer Farm, Whiddon Down, where he began school, later going to Okehampton.

Although both families knew each other, the pair did not really meet until both joined Cheriton Bishop Young Farmers' Club, now Cheriton and Tedburn YFC, with which both are still connected.

Mrs Powlesland was club secretary and in 1953 and 1957 won the girls' cup in the annual competitions. Mr Powlesland, a member of the club since he was 16, used to take sheep shearing classes at various YFCs and has been club president since 1994.

They both attended Cheriton YFCs 10th anniversary in 1954 and have been to each anniversary since, the latest being on October 3. The club is 65 years old this year.

As a lad Robert ploughed with the horses, although they also had a tractor at home. Gwendoline remembers tilling potatoes behind the horses and plough on their farm.

After their marriage, they farmed at Whiddon Down until 1985 when they moved to a smaller farm near Tedburn St Mary.

"We are lucky to be celebrating our golden wedding anniversary because Robert had cancer in July 1979," said Mrs Powlesland.

One of her abiding memories is seeing the relatives of the late Jack Price, the Ashplants, walking from Drewsteignton to Fingle Bridge with the scones, cream and jam for the teas they served in the hut there. Now her niece is a chef at Fingle Bridge Inn.

Although their wedding day was not dry, Mrs Powlesland remembers that the summer of 1959 was hot because on one day an apple on the ledge in the back window of the car cooked right through.

They have two sons, four grandsons and two grand daughters. They are celebrating their anniversary with a family party.