TODAY Victor Marston will celebrate his 100th Christmas and he will raise a pint to the NHS.

That's because a small army of caring NHS workers gave him the ultimate Christmas gift, the gift of life.

The sprightly World War II veteran is Britain's oldest patient to survive major cancer surgery.

Thanks to a team at Royal Bournemouth Hospital, he not only lived to survive his 100th birthday but will now spend Christmas cancer free with his loved ones.

He said: "The hospital were remarkable. They treated me like I was a Lord, and look at me now. I feel pretty good.

"I wrote an epitaph for my son and gave him all the instructions for my burial arrangements but that was seven years ago!

"I'm happy and I live in a very lovely part of the world so I am staying with it."

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, the great-grandfather-of-five was rushed into hospital in May after suffering painful cramps and sickness as he packed for his annual holiday in Torquay.

Having beaten bowel cancer twice in his eighties, he had spent the previous four years in good health.

However an emergency ultrasound revealed a tumour the size of a fist blocking Victor's bowel.

He faced a stark decision - to undergo risky surgery or die within 24 hours.

Victor, a former legal clerk and estate agent, who lives independently in a warden assisted flat in Ringwood, said: "Immediately they told me I had options and I could please myself what I wanted to do.

"I certainly didn't favour the 'giving up' option. As far as I was concerned my life was still worth living and I felt well enough to carry on.

"I have still got so much left to do - so I agreed to the operation and they operated straight away."

The life-saving surgery, where a metre of Victor's bowel was removed, and subsequent two week stay involved more than 50 NHS staff from various hospital departments.

They included everyone from a surgeon, doctors, anaesthetists and nurses to hospital porters, housekeepers, and physiotherapists.

But their hard work paid off. It was a success - and 12 days on from the treatment, Victor was told he was 'cancer free' and was told he could return home.

"It's pretty amazing.

"Life changes and time comes on with you," said Victor, who lost his wife of 37 years Doris after a battle with Alzheimer's nine years ago.

"I don't drive anymore. But I have a mobility scooter and life is for living."

Victor celebrated his 100th birthday last month by organising three parties, which some of the nurses and surgeon Sanjaya Wijeyekoon even attended.

Now he is looking forward to seeing family and enjoying a Christmas dinner at his favourite haunt Ringwood Conservative Club.

Victor, who spent 15 years with the Territorial Army and served with the Queen Victoria Rifles during the Second World War, said: "I've been through so many Christmases. During the war I was never at home but wherever you were, people always invited you in. Christmas to everyone back then was Christmas and it's still the same now.

"It's all about being kind and just having a jolly good time."