AFTER attending her birthday parties as a child he went to war flying a Spitfire and married her on his return.

Now, 60 years on Hampshire couple George and Betty Bromley have just celebrated their diamond wedding.

The pair met at a young age at Betty’s cousin’s home next door to George’s parents in Sholing, Southampton, where he attended her birthday parties from the age of eight.

George, 85 and Betty, 81, were later parted as the war pilot left Britain for Africa in 1942 to complete his training, not to return until he was demobbed in October 1946.

They eventually married on December 23, 1948 at St James church in Shirley.

The couple, who have two sons and five grandchildren, celebrated with about 20 family members and close friends with a dinner at the Bell Hotel in Brook, near Bramshaw.

The Nursling residents have had a travelling theme to their lives journeying across the world on holidays as far as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Malaysia.

George believed he knew the couple’s secret to a strong relationship. He said: “The romance was there when I returned from the war and we got together and it’s still there today.

“We’ve had two brilliant sons and that’s a reflection on the way Betty has brought them up.”