Latest news with #Centenarian
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Postman follows in father's footsteps by celebrating 100th birthday
A WELL-known former serviceman and village postman is following in his father's footsteps as he celebrates his 100th birthday. Tommy Bell, of Gosforth, marked his milestone birthday on May 18 with a surprise pie and peas supper at the New Life Church in Whitehaven and a birthday cake made by his daughter, Janice. Tommy Bell received a card from the King for his 100th birthday (Image: Family handout) He was also presented with two shields from The Royal Border Regiment and The Duke of Lancaster Regiment and received a card from the King. It was a full circle moment for the centenarian, who in 1987 delivered a 100th birthday card from the Queen to his dad, James Bell, while working as a postman. A young Tommy Bell (right) pictured with his younger brother, Gordon, mum Maud and dad James (Image: Family handout) When asked how he felt about turning 100, Mr Bell said: 'Not too bad. I didn't expect all this and all these people coming to see us.' Mr Bell was born near Kendal on May 18,1925. When he was two, he moved to Scotland, where his dad worked as a gamekeeper. Tommy Bell celebrates his 100th birthday with daughter, Janice (Image: Newsquest) The family moved from Scotland to Muncaster in 1942 when Mr Bell was 17 and his dad was gamekeeper for the Muncaster estate. In December 1944, Mr Bell went to Windsor to enlist with the Royal Horse Guards. He was transferred to the Royal Welsh Guards for nine months and then went to Durranhill Barracks. He was in the Border Regiment and served in India for two years. He spent time in Bombay, Calcutta and Bengaluru and said it was 'very hot'. Mr Bell returned to England in 1947 and finished in the Second Battalion of the Manchester Regiment, based in Stockport. He left the army when he was 22 and then worked on the railways for 13 years. Tommy Bell, pictured in his younger years, has marked his 100th birthday (Image: Family handout) He married his first wife, Thelma, in Distington in 1960 and their first daughter Janice was born the same year. They had another daughter, Lorna in 1963. In 1975, he remarried to Janet, who passed away three years ago. Mr Bell has grandchildren Nicola, Sarah, Rory, Jack and Joanna and two great-grandchildren, Castiel and Chloe. Mr Bell is well-known in Gosforth, where he worked as a postman for 30 years and enjoyed 'having a good crack' with residents. He then worked as a bank guard at NatWest for five years in Seascale and later in Egremont. Tommy Bell celebrates his 100th birthday at the New Life Church in Whitehaven with a cake made by his daughter, Janice (Image: Family handout) He used to play the accordion, playing in bands and in church and he still enjoys playing the keyboard. He attends New Life Church in Whitehaven. Genetics have no doubt played a role in Mr Bell's longevity - his dad lived to be 106 - but when asked what the secret to a long life was, Mr Bell said it was 'staying active'. His dad could always be found on the moors, even in later life. Tommy Bell used to play the accordion and still enjoys playing the piano (Image: Family handout) Mr Bell still enjoys going for walks and says he 'used to walk for miles'.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Centenarian remembers singing on VE Day in Trafalgar Square
'We sang and laughed on VE Day in Trafalgar Square' Just now Share Save Sophie Law BBC Radio Oxford Share Save Dorothy Howard remembers celebrating VE Day in Trafalgar Square, exactly 80 years ago A centenarian has said she will "never forget" celebrating VE Day in London's Trafalgar Square alongside hundreds of thousands of fellow jubilant Britons, 80 years ago. Dorothy Howard, from Witney, Oxfordshire, spent two years serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) - the women's branch of the British Army during World War Two. Ms Howard, who turned 100 in February, is now the last surviving member of 26 women photographed from her unit. She spoke to the BBC as the UK marks eight decades since the surrender of Nazi Germany, and the end of war in Europe. Ms Howard still had her maiden name, Mace, when she signed up for the ATS in 1941. "I was interested, nosy I suppose really - I wanted to know what it was all about," she explained. "I wanted to go in the Navy but I didn't swim so they said I had the attributes for office work." Ms Howard is the last living member from this photograph of her ATS unit The work was "serious all the way" and "quite frightening really", she remembered. Explaining her job role, she said: "[They were all wanting] ammunition so you had to type these forms out, hundreds of them. "Silly little bits of ammunition really but very important, I don't think we realised how important it was for the poor people who used it. "I felt I'd done a little bit." Ms Howard spent two years in the service, mostly working at an Army ordnance depot in Middlesex, where she said she earned 26 shillings a week. In 1943, she left to marry her boyfriend - who was serving in the RAF. PA Media Thousands gathered in Trafalgar Square to celebrate VE Day, including Dorothy Howard When VE Day arrived, Ms Howard said she and a friend made it to Trafalgar Square to celebrate and "just enjoyed it". Also there that day was the late Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, who later described it as "one of the most memorable nights" of her life. "[We] sang, shouted, screamed," Ms Howard said. "I'll never forget it – the scenes of joy on everyone's faces, laughing, we weren't laughing at anything really – it was just wonderful. Absolutely marvellous." Following the war, Ms Howard went on to have two children and now has a large family - including great-grandchildren.
