'Magnificent servant!' WW2 veteran celebrates 100th birthday with wife of 75 years

A World War Two Royal Navy veteran has celebrated his 100th birthday with his wife of over 75 years.

Roy Booth celebrated the historic milestone alongside his long-time wife Barbara, whom he affectionately calls "Babs".

Brigadier Mark Dunn from the Royal British Legion said: "He has been a magnificent public servant."

Mr Booth joined the Royal Navy as an 18-year-old in the early 1940s, and he served as part of both the Atlantic and Arctic convoys to Russia, spending most of the war on the seas.

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After completing a full career in the Navy, Mr Booth went on to serve as a police officer before retirement.

Mr Dunn said: "Our senior veteran Roy Booth celebrated his 100th birthday with his wife of 75 years, Barbara.

“We had a Bosun's pipe performed by a Falklands Royal Navy veteran called Richard Westwood from Trowbridge.”

The couple now live at Abbey Mill on Church Street in Bradford on Avon.

The celebration comes just days after a former Bletchley Park codebreaker said "moderation" is the key to his long life while he also celebrated his 100th Birthday with GB News.

Patrick Fields, from Bishops Stortford, spent the day before his birthday celebrating at the Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club in the town centre.

Speaking to GB News, Mr Fields said he was delighted to see so many people turn out early to wish him well.

He told The People's Channel: "I'm very surprised to see so many people here today. Honestly, I'm just amazed I've made it so long."

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"It was so different way back then, people don’t forget everything was rationed back then. Not just food.”

When asked what advice he would give to young people, he said: "Take advantage of what life offers you. Do the things you love but always keep moderation in mind. Never go the whole hog.

"There's an old Greek saying, 'Μηδὲν ἄγαν', it means 'nothing in excess'. I think that's why I'm still here."

Mr Fields worked in the second half of the 1940s at Bletchley Park, where he would decode and decipher Japanese messages.

Japanese intercepts were picked up by listening posts in India and East Africa before being sent to Bletchley.

They were received in four-figure groups and later decoded before being translated by Mr Fields.

Bletchley Park supplied Japanese Air Force intelligence, meaning it was possible to counter air raids in real time.

During his time at Bletchley, Patrick joined the orchestra and played the clarinet.

He also joined their drama group, adding that one of his happiest memories was being in a production of The Importance of Being Earnest.

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