Happy 103rd!

CELEBRATING his 103rd birthday on Sunday, it is clear that age has not diminished Lancing resident Andrew Rigby.

Mr Rigby, of Brighton Road, marked the milestone with friends. He had one party on Friday and another on Sunday, which finished with a game of darts.

He told the Herald: "My cup is full. I am pleased and delighted. Lancing is the biggest village in England and I am very happy to announce that I have the biggest family in England.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Three-quarters of my friends are here, they all know me here as Andrew."

Mr Rigby was born in Lancaster on November 2, 1900.

When World War I broke out, he volunteered and served with the Lancaster First Regiment for six months, before being kicked out after it was discovered he was too young.

At the age of 16, he took holy orders and spent 12 years as a monk with the Holy Jesuit Fathers.

He then joined the Pere Blanc order, and worked as a religious archivist for a further 42 years.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Rigby said as a monk, he was able to travel across Europe freely and worked in France, Italy, Spain and Greece.

He is fluent in seven languages and spent his time documenting religious artefacts for the Vatican.

He added: "In World War II, 19 of us monks volunteered because they could not get enough soldiers that spoke seven languages.

"I served with HMS Maidstone in Algiers for three and a half years as a member of the Royal Navy central intelligence section for the interrogation of prisoners of war. I am the last survivor of the 19."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After 54 years, he was given special dispensation from Pope John Paul to leave holy orders and was awarded two silver Vatican medals.

Mr Rigby added: "It was a pleasure for me and a great surprise." He has lived in Lancing for the last 30 years.

Mr Rigby has been a translator for Sussex Police and regularly plays darts.

He has smoked every day for 85 years and also said he now gets a free drink every day from the Empire Club in Lancing.