MORE than 70 years ago Henry Twine was discharged from the military because of his health.

Yesterday he celebrated his 100th birthday with a glass of bubbly and a card from the Queen.

Called up with the arrival of the Second World War, he went into the 4th Wiltshires and then the 5th.

But he was medically downgraded and was eventually transferred to the army Pay Corps before being demobbed and going on to work for the Naafi until the end of the conflict.

When it finally came time to leave he was driven out sitting on the roof of a lorry.

“I wanted to go abroad but they said no. They reckoned I wasn’t fit enough,” he told the Advertiser.

Following the war Mr Twine, who is known to everyone as George, returned to work at Swindon engineering firm Garrards, riding to and from work on a little motorbike before taking early retirement after 25 years at the age of 60 – again because of ill health.

“They were a good firm, they treated me very well when I left. I loved working at Garrards,” he said.

But he suffered from a heart condition and angina and could not continue.

Asked if he had a secret to long life he confided: “I’ve no idea. Even the doctor says I’m lucky. I’ve had four heart attacks in my lifetime.”

Just over 42 years ago Wootton Bassett-born Mr Twine and his wife Ada moved in to the Mountbatten House sheltered housing complex in Tovey Road where they lived together until she died about 16 years ago.

He also lost his daughter two years before his wife’s death and his son-in-law lives in Norfolk.

But the great grandfather of five is not short of company at the complex. He has adopted his friend Ray Millard’s budgie Bobby, who keeps him company during the day when he watches sport on the TV.

He also joins other residents for an occasional game of pool.

Ray, who spends most evenings watching matches with him, said: “He’s football mad -we don’t really have much conversation because he’s deaf.”

Sheltered housing officer Wendy Weids has known him for 15 years. “He’s marvellous really,” she said. “He just laughs his way through life.”

She added he had lived in borough council sheltered housing longer than anyone else in Swindon.

Many fellow residents gathered together yesterday with Deputy Mayor of Swindon Maureen Penny to share some birthday cake and toast his long life.