Melksham resident celebrates 100th birthday

A Melksham resident has celebrated his 100th birthday this month.

Ron Francis turned 100 on Wednesday 21st January and said he was ‘astonished’ to reach the milestone and receive a birthday card from King Charles III.

“I was very pleased to receive this, it’s just lovely,” said Ron, who has lived in Melksham for 30 years with his wife, Janet Francis.

During his 100 years, Ron fought in World War II as part of the Royal Air Force Association. He later recalled fond memories of working at Collins, the publishers in Pall Mall, where he met Agatha Christie.

“She was very nice person. She never talked down to you,” said Ron. “I used to make her a cup of tea and she always insisted on giving me some money, which I didn’t need. She always insisted on paying me something for the tea. She was a really lovely lady.”

Later, Ron worked for Kipling as an accounts manager and at Warburtons.

To celebrate his birthday, friends visited Ron throughout the day at his home in Melksham.

Pictured: Ron Francis on his 100th birthday with his birthday letter signed by King Charles and Queen Camilla