100-year-old local Shares his secrets

‘‘He is self sufficient and walks up and down the stairs, he's amazing.’’ Michael Hall

When Reg Alexander woke up on May 15, he said it was like any other cold morning, except for one thing. It was his 100th birthday.

Alexander is not your typical centenarian. Quite the opposite, he lives in a two storey house and gets about fine, up and down the stairs, without the aid of a walking frame or a stick.

He has a sharp mind and easily recalls dates or events that have taken place over the course of his life.

He still has clear memories of the war and when he flew his first plane.

And the secret: ‘‘Surgeons, Doctors and Nurses get you through,’’ he says.

He said without them he would not be here today.

What impresses his family the most is that Alexander recently renewed his driver’s licence.

Michael Hall said his stepfather is still driving around town, and even brought a brand new car at the age of 91.

Alexander has been driving cars for 65 years and before that bikes for 16 years.

Hall said Alexander has a daily routine and still manages to do everything the same as if he were younger.

‘‘He is self sufficient and walks up and down the stairs, he’s amazing.’’

He said things are done at a slow but steady pace but he gets it done and is ’’just amazing.’’

Step son Denis Hall said Alexander didn’t drink and decided to stop smoking at age 76 as he decided ’’It wasn’t good for his health.’’

He ‘‘putters away’’ doing his dayto-day business like any other person, and his age has not stopped him from achieving anything.

Throughout his life Alexander worked at the railways, made tools, models from photos, flew planes and fought in the war in the Middle East.

At age 47 he continued to do something he loved and sat his pilot licence, accomplishing 60 hours with a safety pilot, but was told he was unable to continue due to being colour blind in one eye.

He married in 1979 and took in his now step kids Denis, Michael, Janet, Lorraine and Bryan who have come from near and far to be with him on his milestone day.

On Saturday, to help celebrate Alexanders 100 years, his friends and family came together including family from Australia.

The celebration lasted three days starting Saturday night and ending Monday afternoon with an official birthday cake.