A COUPLE who got married during the Second World War have never had a row, according to their son.

Seaford residents Eileen Thomas, 95, and George Thomas, 96, met at a youth club through a joint interest in cycling and, 76 years later, they are still together.

Their son, Paul Thomas, 73, said: “They have always been together, they’re soulmates. They have had small tiffs, but I have never heard of them having a serious row in all those years.”

But, after meeting in their teenage years, George and Eileen’s relationship was challenged early on when the outbreak of the Second World War forced George to serve abroad.

Paul said: “My dad joined up with his friend. They were both underage but decided to sign up as a bet. My dad went out to Burma with the RAF and used to repair Spitfires, Mosquitos and Hurricanes. His friend became part of the bomber squad, but unfortunately he was killed.”

Eileen stayed in England and worked with the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and was part of a team operating radar systems.

In 1943, George took leave and returned to England to visit Eileen. It was during this short time off that the pair got married. Paul said: “It was quite a challenge being apart but in those days there was not much choice.”

Paul recalled one story his father had told him in which his site was being invaded so they had to set fire to a field of the wooden aeroplanes they looked after to stop them falling into the “wrong hands”.

When the war ended, George and Eileen went to live in London with Paul’s aunt. But they saved up and bought a house in Catford, south east London, from his grandmother.

In the 1970s, they moved down to Seaford and have stayed there ever since.

Paul, who lives in Leicester, said: “They love the area, when I come down to visit them it’s like being in a different world. It could be one of the reasons they have been able to live such long and happy lives.”

Paul revealed he had fond memories of his childhood, along with his younger brother Peter, 69. He said: “We had an extraordinary upbringing and never wanted for anything.

“Although there were times when my parents struggled we were always very happy and my brother and I are so proud of them.”

One of Paul’s strongest memories was his father’s love of cars. He said: “We were very lucky as children because we could always get about. Dad had some amazing cars, but also some bangers. He had one with a wooden floor, and one time the exhaust fumes came up through the floorboards and filled the car.”