Raise a glass toFrank’s 100th

He marked the occasion with a celebration party lunch at the Brickwall in Sedlescombe surrounded by family and friends.

Daughter Judi Lightbody said: “Frank was born in Islington, the youngest of 4 boys, to Emily Ada, a seamstress, and Charles a carpenter.

After leaving school at the age of 13 his father found him a job with a firm that supplied scientific instruments, John J Griffin, and he stayed with that firm all his working life, climbing up the ladder, surviving a few takeovers, mergers and change of name until he held the post of Marketing Director and Deputy Managing Director.

“During his time there he was sent to manage the Manchester office and changed its fortunes. It was there that he met Kathleen, our mum, one weekend whilst out walking with friends.

“They got married in 1946 and had two children, Mike and Judi. Mike married a Swedish au pair, Gunilla, who was working over here in Chorleywood where we used to live. I married Pip, also from Chorleywood. We’ve now lived in Robertsbridge 26 years and Frank has been here for nearly 25.

Mike and Gunilla have 3 children, Sofia, Christina and Daniel all married and living in Sweden. Pip and I have 2, Ian and Matt also married but living slightly closer, Ian and family in Leeds and Matt and Emily in Tunbridge Wells. Dad now has nine great grand children.

“Dad took up swimming late in life. He took up bridge too and enjoyed that for many years joining a local bridge club. He also helped at Age UK in Robertsbridge for many years. At the age of 98 he spent his first ever time in hospital and had a pacemaker fitted.”