ONE of Swindon’s oldest sons has spoken of his gratitude after being presented with a special gift from representatives of his former army corps.

Alfred Page, who celebrated his 102nd birthday in February, served with the Royal Electrical And Mechanical Engineers (REME) during the Second World War.

And earlier this month, two REME welfare officers met Alfred at his home in Pinehurst to present him with a copy of the REME book From the Archives, a complete history of the army corps.

The REME representatives heard that Alfred had served with them during the war after reading an Adver article marking Alfred’s 102nd birthday.

A proud Alfred said: “I enjoyed the visit very much, it was like talking to two old friends.

“I have been told that I am the oldest person left from the REME in this area.”

Always keen to discuss his experiences during the war, Alfred said: ‘’We talked about where I served during the war and how I ended up in the middle of the Blitz in Norwich.

“I was training to be a Motor Mechanic for the REME at the time. They dropped bombs on the Monday, Wednesday and Friday. One of the bombs they dropped went straight through the garage roof where I was training and onto the first floor but didn’t explode.

“I discovered the bomb as I got to the top of the stairs and saw the wires hanging. I have never run down a flight of stairs so fast. If that bomb had gone off, it would have blown the whole street up.’’

Alfred was joined by warrant officers Stewart Blakey and Rich Bateman and was also presented with volumes one and two of a book called Craftsmen of the Army: The Story of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, which traces the regiment’s history since it came into existence in 1942.

They also brought him a cake as a belated birthday gift.

Bev Bate, corps welfare manager at REME, said: “We saw the story in the Advertiser and thought it would be a nice gesture because he is the oldest member of REME.

“We brought him a cake and it was lovely to chat with him about his experiences during the war.”

Alfred was responsible for defending Britain’s coast in anticipation of a German invasion.

He fought in Europe and ended the war in Germany, before returning home and marrying his sweetheart Dorothy Silk in 1946.

The pair first met in Old Town in 1945. She was a widow as her first husband was one of the 60 million killed during the war.

As a boy, he went to King William Street Church of England School in Old Town and has lived his whole life in Swindon.