11:10am Friday 10th July 2009
By James Connell
A GREAT grandfather is celebrating his 103rd birthday today with friends and family.
Arthur Wilkes will be sharing the milestone with his son John and daughter Yvonne at Dorset House, Blackfriars Avenue, Droitwich.
Mr Wilkes,who was born on Friday, July 10, 1905, said he had kept himself fit through gardening, rugby and more recently, gentle exercises at the nursing home.
He is now the oldest of the 41 residents at Dorset House but he still has a few years to go to reach the record – one of them lived to be 105.
Mr Wilkes said: “They say I’m getting on a bit but I’m feeling pretty good for my age.”
Melanie Eastwood, activities co-ordinator at Dorset House, said: “He’s a proper gentleman. He’s very kind and gentle and he’s a bit of a ladies man. He’s very sprightly for his age. He’s very popular with all the other residents.
“He spends his time tending to plants in his room and he likes orchids. He is involved in the gardening club here and he tends to vegetables outside. He also loves classical music.”
Mr Wilkes has been married twice and has four grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He worked at the Morris factory in Cowley, Oxford.
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