WATCHING German bombs rain down on the nearby Cunliffe-Owen aircraft factory in Swaythling was the “worst” part of Roy Major’s 51 years working on the railways.

Major joined the railway works at Eastleigh on September 3, 1940, a year after the outbreak of the Second World War.

It is hard to imagine how the terrified 14-year-old felt as death fell from the sky onto what is now the Ford factory.

Roy survived the war – and more than half a century working at the same place – and signed for the Eastleigh Railway Institute cribbage team when he retired in 1991.

His skipper Charlie Ford paid tribute to the 85-year-old.

“He’s been a good old stalwart,” he said. “He still wants to come back every week.

“Roy said tonight in the car coming up that this is the latest he’s been out all summer.”

Ford, who has completed more the 20 years in the Division 1 team, used to partner Andy Mines, dad of Justin who plays for the Institute’s Super League snooker team.

The 64-year-old said the Institute’s main rivals are St Denys Cons C.

“Always have been,” he laughed. “From the first day I started, I was introduced to Terry (Kitcher) and all his team and we hit it off.”

And Major grinned (or was that a grimace) as he added: “We usually have a bit of fun with THAT team.”

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