A MAN who served in the Royal Army Medical Corps during World War Two has celebrated his 100th birthday.

Arthur Woodley’s celebrations included a surprise visit from the head of West Moors Parish Council, Cllr Penny Yeo.

She was joined by her parish clerk Judi Weedon and presented Arthur with a card and a bottle of red wine.

She said: “When I heard Arthur was turning 100, I wanted very much to meet him.

“It’s not often you have the chance to talk to someone who has lived such a long and interesting life, and it has been lovely to see all the cards and gifts he has received, including this wonderful card from the Queen.”

Arthur was born near Braintree in Essex in 1916, but moved to Bournemouth with his mother and sister when he was 15 – five years after the death of his father.

During his teenage years, he and his friends attended dances on Bournemouth Pier, where they would partner the young, female holidaymakers.

Arthur joined the Army Supplementary Reserve in 1938 and travelled to France as part of the Expeditionary Force, where he served as a private in the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Working under canvas at a 1200-bed army hospital, one of his jobs was to record the many casualties which came in each day.

After the war, he met and married his wife Ellen. They had two daughters, Elizabeth and Patricia. The family lived in Winton.

Sadly, Ellen passed away in 1988, following a stroke.

Arthur also returned to his job at the London Electricity Board in Bournemouth, where he stayed for 42 years until retiring.

The great-grandfather and resident at Colten Care’s Brook View care home in West Moors, said: “I enjoyed my work and liked the people I worked with, and we had an active social club where I improved my dancing.”

He also developed a talent for landscape photography.

He was chairman of Bournemouth Camera Club twice and his photographs were published in national magazines including Amateur Photographer.

The advent of digital photography saw his interest in his hobby wane, and he instead dedicated his time to being a patient visitor for Bournemouth hospital’s League of Friends, which he enjoyed very much.

He celebrated his birthday with a party at Brook View with his daughters, their husbands, his four grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

He said: “As a younger man, I walked everywhere and liked to dance, but I don’t think there is a secret to long life.

“For me, life is a God-given gift.”