Croxley Green man celebrates 100th birthday

Dad-of-two John Tatham - who will become a centenarian on Saturday - was born in Duncombe Street, Spennymoor, on November 5, 1922.

Snow was falling when he was born, prompting the midwife to say: "It is snowing inside as well" - in reference to his white hair.

Mr Tatham was an electronics engineer in the Royal Armouries Ordinance Core between 1942 and 1945 - during the Second World War - when he was awarded the 1934-1945 War Medal.

Mr Tatham was an electronics engineer during the Second World War. (Image: Bethany Tatham)

On his time in the Royal Armouries Ordinance Core, John said: "I just got on with life, I never complained, things were difficult.

"I mean if you like to have your dinner served up in a little metal can and drink your hot tea out of an old condensed milk tin, and go walking in the dark in the middle of the night waiting for things to happen with great big spiders running around!"

John is a keen violinist, having ran his own orchestra in the midlands, and has been part of Bushey Symphony Orchestra since 1976.

John Tatham, as a baby, being pushed in a pram. (Image: Bethany Tatham)

Crosswords, listening to swing jazz, amateur film-making and mending other people's electronic goods make up John's other hobbies.

He has been married to his wife Marcia for 58 years.

John's granddaughter Bethany Tatham said: "Nanny (Marcia) was secretary for one of the ‘big bosses’ at GEC (Marconi) and grandad had to bring documents for sign off.

"He was a very quiet and shy man, but they caught each other’s eyes.

John Tatham as a young boy. (Image: Bethany Tatham)

"They discovered their mutual love for music (nanny learnt how to play the treble recorder so she could join in with music making), and their relationship blossomed from then onwards."

Having previously lived in Harrow, John Tatham moved to Croxley Green in 1967, where has lived ever since.

Mr Tatham has two children, David and Sarah, and three grandchildren called Daniel, Bethany and Owen.