Surprise party marks RAF veteran's 105th birthday
BBCA 105-year-oId RAF veteran has been thrown a surprise party to celebrate his milestone birthday.
Jack Waterfield was born on 18 May 1921 in Kingsthorpe, Northampton, and started his military service 20 years later.
The party in his hometown was organised by parish councillor and fellow veteran Pete Spink, and was attended by schoolchildren, cadets and other veterans last weekend.
"I'm past my sell-by date," Waterfield joked, when he was asked what it was like to turn 105.
"It was jolly good, I've had an exciting three or four days really," he told BBC Radio Northampton, regarding his birthday celebrations.
"[I've been] eating and drinking and having me photo took, telling people stories.
"So really, I'm worn out I suppose."
He now lives in a care home in Duston, but during World War Two he was sent to north Africa, Malta and Gibraltar as part of a special four-man mission.
When he returned home, he ran a shoe business for many decades.
Party organiser Spink said it was moving seeing Waterfield walk into the room at Duston Community Centre, not realising it was all put on for him.
He said: "He thought he was going into the cafe just to meet his normal mates, but he met 50-plus in the room.
"He said he wanted to go and have a bit of a lie down afterwards, [and] he'd had more cake and more partying this weekend than he'd ever done."
Spink, who represents the New Duston East ward, said he met Waterfield through his work on the parish council.
"I got first introduced to him last May at one of [the council's] coffee calls," he said.
"He sat down and got his medals out and started telling me all about his career.
"It's very important for the younger ones to keep them updated and aware of what's gone before."
Deputy Lieutenant for Northamptonshire and retired Air Vice-Marshal Andrew White also attended the party, calling Waterfield a "wonderful example of a man".
"105 years is a heck of an achievement," he said.
"That generation were thrown into a most horrific conflict [and] experienced all sorts of awful things.
"When they came back, they were just thrown straight back into civilian life. There's no doubt hundreds and thousands of our veterans suffered for the rest of their life," he added.
Do you have a story suggestion for Northamptonshire? Contact us below.
Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
