His father, 102, was a veteran and former royal navy medic. He was assigned to landing craft operations during the second world war. His primary responsibility was caring for sick and injured personnel.
He was a nurse, specialist in orthopaeds in Birmingham before becoming a physiotherapist. In the late 1960s he worked for two local football clubs, Accrington Stanley and blackburn Rovers. He joined the navy after a reserved wartime occupation.
He retired to crossmichael, Kirkcudbrightshire. His 100th birthday was celebrated with surprise performance by the royal marines band. In 2025 he was a chevalier of the légion d'honneur by the French ambassador.
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