AN ex-Navy sailor who served during the Second World War has celebrated a milestone birthday.

Herbert Bray, known as Bert, was born on November 5, 1921, and celebrated his 100th birthday last Friday.

Herb, who has spent most of his life in Warrington, has one daughter, Christina Bray, and two grandchildren, Amanda and Matthew.

He was born in Yorkshire but moved to Blackpool at the age of two, before moving to Warrington in 1940.

It was while working in Warrington that Bert met his wife of almost sixty years, Catherine Millington.

In 1941, Bert was called to war and listed in the Royal Navy – serving as a gunner on HMScadiz, a Second World War ‘battle class destroyer’.

He then served in the Navy until he was discharged in 1953 and worked at British Aluminium for 19 years.

Bert and Catherine moved to Taylor Street, Lower Walton, in 1963 where the couple owned a corner shop.

 

 

 

They then sold the shop and built a bungalow on Boat Walk, Walton, in 1975.

Bert then operated the swing bridges on Manchester Ship Canal before moving to become the lock keeper at Latchford Locks.

During these years, he was a member of the Royal Navy association at Fleetwood.

Herb retired in 1987 and moved to Park Avenue, Latchford, with Catherine – who sadly died in 1999.

He lived here until moving into Westy Hall Care Home, Latchford, in February this year.