Happy 100th

HAVING gone to work on a farm at the age of 13, William Laker says the secret to a long life is, quite simply, hard work.

And at 100 years old, he is obviously something of an expert.

Celebrating his birthday on Friday at Darlington Court residential home, he looked the perfect gentleman in his distinguished Royal Artillery tie. He sat and cracked jokes while proudly showing off his birthday card from the Queen.

You know they hired me as a scarecrow when I first went to work on the farm, he laughed.

William grew up in Petworth, he left to join the Royal Field Artillery when he was 18 and was posted to Mesopotamia. He married at 23 and has had three sons and a daughter.

During World War II, he was called up and went to Dunkirk and spent the rest of the war in the Middle East.

William reflected on his busy life and added: I ve had a pretty good life really, and I have never been afraid of the dark!

Pictured, William gets a visit from Rustington Parish Council chairman Linda Beard.

For the full story read this weeks Littlehampton Gazette.