CENTENARIAN William Collis was honoured to receive a card from the Queen as he celebrated his special birthday at Park View Nursing Home.

Will, who moved to Swindon in 1980 to be near his son, Peter, and his family, celebrated his 100th birthday yesterday with a party surrounded by his family.

He also had a visit from Swindon mayor, Teresa Page, who dropped in on Will to offer her congratulations.

Will said: “It’s absolutely marvellous to receive a card from the Queen. It’s quite an honour.”

He said the secret to a long and happy life was being generally well behaved, but also being a little bit naughty.

His daughter-in-law, Jan Collis, said: “We couldn’t have held such a wonderful celebration without all the support from Park View. They have been fantastic, they really have.

“They’ve made it much easier to hold something like this and just given me space to be able to enjoy it along with the rest of the family.”

Born in Richmond, William remembers walking for more than three miles to get to the local market to buy meat and vegetables while he was still at school, and then and dragging everything back in a big orange box to his mother.

He lost his father during the First World War, and was in a protected job during the Second World War, when he worked in engineering in the aircraft industry.

Will and his wife Jessie had two children – Margaret, who moved and now lives in Australia, and Peter, plus five grandchildren, six great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

The couple were founder members of the Freshbrook Evangelical Church, and often held prayer meetings before the church itself was built.

He was also heavily involved with many of the building jobs while the church was built and spent much of his early retirement on the site.

William became a resident at Park View in Blunsdon in 2003 after suffering a bad fall at home.

He broke his hip, making mobility more difficult.

Jan said: “I think it’s wonderful that he has got to such an age.

“His wife got to 98 which was also, great but when he broke his hip after his fall we were worried.”