A SECOND World War veteran has marked his 100th birthday surrounded by friends and family.
Roy Daines reached his centenary on January 18, and celebrated with family and friends.
He served in the RAF during the war as a wireless operator on Wellington bombers and joined 192 Squadron, a bomber command based in Foulsham, Norfolk, which focused on special duties.
After a full tour of duty of more than 30 operations, he became an instructor and retrained as a code and cypher officer.
He was transferred to India and then to Japan, where he was stationed in Hiroshima after the US dropped the atomic bomb.
Son Peter said: "My father is not like other people, who remember the war as good old times.
"He is always looking forward and hopes for a good future.
"My father is also adventurous. When I was younger, as a family, we used to get in a camper and travel across Europe and sail across the Essex coastline.
Roy has lived at Silver End, near Witham, for more than 70 years.
He is still very active and does all his own cooking, cleaning, washing and gardening, and loves to use his computer.
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