War veteran marks his 107th birthday

Richard is decorated for role he played on D-Day

A Second World War veteran, decorated for his part in the DDay landings, turned 107 this month.

Richard Brown celebrated at Windmill Care Centre with a cake, decorations and family members.

The supercentenarian normally prefers ‘a quiet cup of tea’ at the Slough-based facility but care staff who have known Richard for years threw the former solider a party to celebrate his ‘extraordinary life’.

Richard was born in 1917 during the First World War and served in the British Army from 1937 to 1946.

He received The Legion of Honour from the French Government – the highest French decoration and one of the most famous in the world – for the part he played during the DDay landings.

Nowadays, Richard enjoys the simple things in life.

Richard said that his favourite things to do include listening to music and “I like to watch the football with a cuppa,” he said.

Vanessa Cabulong, manager at Windmill Care Home, part of the Maria Mallaband Care Group, said: “We feel so privileged to have Richard living here with us. He has had an extraordinary life, particularly distinguished by his honoured service during the Second World War. We are thrilled to be able to celebrate this special day with him – not many of us will be able to see our 107th year as he has.

“He is treasured by his family and by all of us at Windmill Care Home, and we all wish him the happiest of birthdays.” Son-in-law David Campbell said that Richard, whom he has cared for since his wife, Valerie, Richard’s daughter, passed way, said that the 107year old is ‘very laid back and a proper English gentleman’.

The two plus other family members celebrated ‘his second father and best friend’s’ birthday with a second party at a carvery restaurant.

“He loves his roast dinner,” he said.

Speaking of Richard’s

Second World War endeavours David said that Richard showed immense bravery.

“He spent a lot of his time training troops up and down the country and then D-Day came along he was moved to Southampton.

“He landed on Juno beach with the Canadian and English regiments. There was a lot of bravery shown on those beaches and you can’t take it away from him.”

But according to David, Richard kept that part of his life under wraps for decades.

“I never knew nothing about his war career until the D-Day commemorations in France in 2014 and he said ‘oh, I was there’ and we turned around and said ‘really?’ and he said ‘I landed on the beaches on DDay’ then it all started to come out. I couldn’t believe it. He’d been quiet all this time.”

After the war Richard had a long career as an electrical engineer in both London and Slough.

He charts his longevity down to a glass of single malt scotch every evening.

Although, when he entered the party at the care home, he looked up at the banners and said: “That’s me? I can’t believe I’ve lived this long.”