PASSENGERS using the Dorset Community Transport bus No. 88 would have noticed a few differences on one recent trip: cakes, cards and celebrations for lifelong Wimborne resident Eddie Drake, who was celebrating his 100th birthday.

Mr Drake, who has lived in Hardy Crescent since 1926, takes the trip into town on the not-for-profit bus once a week for a breakfast at one of the cafes there.

The driver and fellow passengers helped him celebrate by presenting a card they’d all signed, sang happy birthday and passed round some sweet treats. The driver also decorated the bus and Eddie's usual seat for the morning run.

Eddie was born at West Row in Wimborne in May 1919 and moved to Hardy Crescent in Wimborne with his parents in 1926.

He signed up with the TA in 1939 and served in France, Germany and Holland. During the German invasion of Holland he and others were hidden by a Dutch family whom he kept in touch with after the war for many years.

He married during the war, had a daughter and a son, and moved into another house in Hardy Crescent where he still lives today. Following the war he became a builder and retired in 1984.

DCT general manager,Tim Christian, said: "We were especially pleased to see Mr Drake return to being able to get into town, after a fall at the end of last year which led to a spell in hospital with a broken hip.

"It was his son, Keith, who was in touch with us to coordinate the intended on-board celebrations in advance, and I travelled to Wimborne to await the arrival of the bus to greet Mr Drake and his family."