FAMILY members travelled from as far afield as Canada last week to celebrate the 100th birthday of a resident at a care home in Braydon.

Lindsey Little reached his century on Thursday, January 12, and was surrounded by members of his family to celebrate.

With a pile of cards to his side and a glass of fizz in his hand, Lindsey greeted everyone from his chair with a smile on his face.

“A lot of fuss because I just haven’t stopped living for 100 years,” he said modestly as guests arrived.

The 100-year-old currently lives at White Lodge Care Home in Braydon, but was born in north London and subsequently lived in Bexleyheath.

After school he had a number of minor jobs including as a night telephone operator on the international exchange.

His role was to monitor diplomatic calls as he is multi-lingual, one of which the desperate request for help from Czech government immediately prior to the German invasion.

The outbreak of WW2 saw him as one of the first to volunteer for service and, because of his language skills, he was selected for the Royal Corps of Signals.

His escape following the fall of France was via Dieppe on the very last ship to depart, two weeks after Dunkirk.

He spent much of the war in North Africa attached to the Americans.

Following the war he took the civil service exam and remained in the service until his retirement.

Lindsey married his wife Phyllis in 1951 after meeting her while working for the civil service in London.

The couple had two children, Anthony and his younger brother Andrew.

After retirement he moved to Ramsey near Peterborough before his wife’s dementia became too severe and they moved to White Lodge in Braydon where he has been a resident for 10 years.

Mr Little celebrated his birthday with his family in Lechlade.

Relatives travelled from Swansea, Portsmouth and Calgary in Canada, making it the largest family gathering since his wife’s funeral five years ago.

Reflecting on his life, he said the world had not changed in his lifetime, but rather people had.

“People’s attitudes have changed so much,” he said.

“I think generally speaking people have become more self-centred.”

When asked if he had any advice for younger generations, he said simply: “I have never been wise, so words of wisdom from me will be few I’m afraid.

“These are things that one never thinks about normally.”