A SECOND World War veteran and former president of the Bridport Rotary Club turned 100 over the weekend.

Austen Bath celebrated his 100th birthday quietly with his son and daughter-in-law at the family home in Seatown.

He plans to hold a bigger party at his home in Peeler’s Court when the pandemic restrictions allow.

A proud Cornishman, Mr Bath was born in the small village of Sticker near St Austell on April 18, 1921.

He served in the RAF during the war, married Jean McOnie and set up home in Cornwall, working as the assistant administrator of the local Poor Law Institution.

Following a time in York they moved to Bridport. Mr Bath was the hospital administrator for the Bridport General Hospital in Park Road, the old isolation hospital in North Allington - now the site of the community hospital - Allington Court outpatients and Port Bredy hospital at the top of Barrack Street.

He joined the Bridport Rotary Club and was elected president in 1982. He is a Paul Harris Fellow and remains an honorary member of the Bridport Rotary Club.

During his time living in Bridport, Mr Bath was also a keen member of the golf club, sang bass in the congregational church choir and took part in a number of productions of the Bridport Amateur Operatic Society.

In addition to his card from The Queen, many other cards and gifts were received including 100 Narcissi scented flowers from St Martin’s in the Isles of Scilly where his mother was raised, a celebration Cognac from the twin Rotary Club of Jarnac in France, and a painting by his daughter-in-law Chris of Charlestown, Cornwall, where he spent many happy times as a boy. He also received a copy of the Times from the day he was born and another from his 21st birthday.

He now looks forward to the time when he can celebrate with his two granddaughters Louisa and Gemma and his three great grandsons.