TONY Praat celebrated his 100th birthday on Wednesday, July 27 with a delicious cake baked for him by member of staff at Hillbrow Residential Care Home, where he has been living happily for 18 months.

The birthday cake, made by Janet Arthur featured an image of a plane, a reminder of his days in the RAF.

Tony, a retired dentist, moved to Crediton with his wife Esmé (Tomi) and daughter Susan in 1955.

For 18 years they lived at Elmfield House, Fordton, before moving to Alexandra Road.

For a number of years Tony was the Crediton Branch Secretary for the Cancer Relief MacMillan Fund, organising many events. He was also one of the founder members of the Friends of Newcombes Surgery.

When he was younger, Tony was a good pianist and a keen golfer.

He is very proud of his two grandsons and three great grandchildren.

A fellow resident of Hillbrow Residential Care Home, wrote a poem to celebrate Tony’s special birthday:

Congratulations Tony, one hundred years of age

It’s like turning over a very special page

A page from the book that holds the key

To all you hold dear in your memory

Life as we know it has a habit of changing direction

The trouble is, it’s a problem without a list of instructions

Well Tony, it looks as if you’ve turned the right way

Because it’s brought you down the Hillbrow way

We love you Tony, and we are all happy to say

Bless you, and congratulations on this special day!

Les Powell