A POOLE man celebrated his 100th birthday with a celebratory song from school children.

George Cowell, who lives on Joliffe Road, visited Garland Road Day Centre, where he goes six days a week, to be greeted by a group of children from Longfleet Church of England (VC) Combined School, who made him a card and sang Happy Birthday.

He also received a visit from Deputy Mayor of Poole, Cllr Carol Evans, and George’s son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Leticia Cowell, who travelled from Vancouver, in Canada, to be with George on his special day.

George said that he was very grateful to all the people that had taken to the time to be with him on his 100th birthday and that it meant so much to him.

He also told the children from Longfleet Church of England (VC) Combined School: “One day, you will reach my age, and if you receive the reception that I am getting today, it will make you very happy.”

He went to joke that his birthday card from The Queen was ‘from an old friend of mine.’ George explained how he was a retired Senior Scientific Officer and worked for many years under the Ministry of Defence, where he was an expert in photographing equipment which was deemed dangerous or posed a threat.

The father of three, with four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, said that the secret to reaching 100 years-of-age is to ‘have confidence in what you’re doing and how you live, and to be an honest citizen.’ George also enjoyed a tea party, complete with his own birthday cake, a live singer, and warm wishes from family members of other visitors to the day centre.