The daughter of a couple celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary say the secret to their long and happy marriage is an “ability to forgive”.

George and Violet O’Neill, who live in Furnace Green, Crawley, celebrated the major milestone on November 14 with a letter from King Charles and Queen Camilla and the Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex.

The couple, who are both 97, still live in the home they bought in 1965.

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George and Violet met at 16 in a club called the Jive Shack in Morden in 1943, during the Second World War.

Violet was from Camberwell, but staying with her older sister, who had recently moved to Morden.

Her sister introduced her to George, originally from Bermondsey but living in Morden, South London, and sparks flew across the dance floor.

“My mum always says it was my dad’s sense of humour, they always shared a lovely sense of fun. My dad said it was my mum's kindness that stood out to him."

Both had left school at 14. George, at the time, was working at the London Stock Exchange and Violet was working at Swears and Wells, a department store in London,  known for being an outfitter, hosier and furrier.

“Mum sold fur coats and because she was very pretty and petite, she was often asked to model the coats,” said daughter Caroline Jones. “She never had one herself.”