A COUPLE from Evesham will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this week in a marriage born under the sweltering heat of an African sun.

Allan and Barbara Bott, from Greenhill, married on the island of Zanzibar – in what is now Tanzania, East Africa – on November 24, 1960.

Allan worked in Customs and Excise in the UK before heading out to Africa to join the police force in Kenya. He said: “I had always been fascinated by stories from Kenya and decided I would like to join the police force there. We met in Zanzibar where Barbara was a maths teacher at a girl’s grammar school, while I was a police officer. I was with the Kenyan police force for six years.”

Barbara, who is originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, said: “I was a keen swimmer and chose to go and work there to enjoy a warm life.”

The couple were married in Zanzibar Cathedral, which was built on the site of the old slave market, with a ceremonial guard of honour and music from the police band.

Allan is a member of Evesham Rotary and Barbara the Pershore Inner Wheel. They have lived in Evesham for more than 30 years.

Allan and Barbara have two sons who live in the Vale, and a daughter in London. They also have four granddaughters.