A Navy veteran who has lived in the city for his whole life has celebrated his 100th birthday.

Ernie Snelling was born on September 4, 1924, in Brighton to parents Percy and Lilian Snelling and he attended Patcham School in Old London Road where his love of sport and carpentry flourished and he excelled in maths.

At the age of 15, Ernie saw the Second World War break out and vowed to join the Royal Navy to follow in his father’s footsteps.

Ernie when he joined the navy at the age of 19Ernie when he joined the navy at the age of 18 (Image: Linda Snelling)

He signed up at 18 years old, leaving his girlfriend May behind, and was stationed in Malta transporting torpedoes to war ships at 19.

Ernie was given leave to marry his girlfriend in Brighton, although he had to make a mad dash to Patcham parish church from Brighton Station after his train from Portsmouth was delayed.

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After the war, Ernie and May set up their home in Bevendean with their daughter Maureen. The family dyed sheets for their curtains and made rugs to cover up the cold lino flooring. The couple had three more children there - Linda, Colin and Marc.

Ernie secured a job at Allen West, a firm of electrical engineers, where he stayed as a loyal employee for 30 years.

Ernie and May on their wedding dayErnie and May on their wedding day (Image: Linda Snelling)

In the meantime, the family relocated to Midhurst Rise in Hollingbury, before Ernie took part in a self-build scheme near Ditchling Road. Over three years, he built the bungalow he lives in now, which he purchased with £300 borrowed from his parents.

Eventually, Ernie left Allen West to patrol Brighton seafront as a beach inspector, checking deck chairs were up to standard and recording the weather daily. He reported back to Brighton and Hove Council, as well as The Argus.

While Brighton Marina was under construction in the early 1970s, Ernie joined the works there.

Ernie has since lost his wife and son Colin.

Daughter Linda said: “He is an ordinary man who has lived in Brighton all his life but he is a hero in his family's eyes and his stories of being a true Brightonian live on through us, who all still live and love being in our wonderful city.”