100th birthday celebrations for ‘well liked’ Northampton born-and-bred man who served in RAF during World War Two
A man who was born-and-bred in Northampton and served in the RAF during World War Two has celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by friends and family.
Robert Ellard - known as Bob - celebrated his first three figure birthday on Sunday (October 20) at St John’s Residential Care Home, in Weston Favell, where he has lived since May.
The now 100-year-old married Molly, who he met at a dramatic society, and went on to have two sons and two granddaughters.
John Ellard, one of Bob’s sons, said: “My dad is quiet, kind and well liked by all who know him.
“He was always active during his life, playing cricket, tennis and table tennis along with having a large allotment plot that he always seemed to be working on and only, finally, gave up earlier this year.
“If asked [what is the key to a long, happy life], he would probably say, ‘moderation in all things,’ but his genes may help - his mother and most siblings lived into their nineties.”
Bob was born in Turner Street, Abington and became one of five boys and two girls.
As a youngster, Bob attended Stimpson Avenue School before beginning work at 14, initially at a printers but, thanks to the intervention of his sister, Gladys, then an apprenticeship with the Northampton Gas Light Company in 1939.
Bob was a member of the Air Training Corps, so was enlisted into the RAF during World War Two. However, he was found to be colour blind so was unable to be aircrew, which his family now say probably saved his life.
Bob went on to serve in the No. 601 (County of London) Squadron on the east coast of Italy. By the end of the war Bob’s Squadron was in Treviso, just north of Venice.
After the war ended, it was a year before Bob returned to blighty, via a long train journey through the Alps and France. Including Bob, four brothers fought in the war and returned home unscathed.
Upon his return, he resumed his work at the gas and light company and stayed there until he retired, aged 58.
Bob met his future wife, Molly, at St. Michael’s Dramatic Society during rehearsals for an adaptation of JB Priestley’s, aptly named, ‘When We Are Married’. They married in 1950. Molly and Bob had two sons and two granddaughters before Molly’s death in 2003.
Bob’s family say he took comfort from his love of gardening and spent a lot of time at his allotment, providing family and friends with the fruits of his labour.
John added: “An awful lot to have packed into 100 years and what a change he has seen in his lifetime! The house he was born into only had gas lighting and the first Labour government had only been elected that year.”
Thanks to the help and support of neighbours, Bob was still living alone until the start of this year when he broke his leg in a fall. Bob wasn’t able to get enough strength back into his leg, so he moved into a care home. His family say “he really likes the place and the caring staff have made him feel at home”.
The home hosted a birthday celebration for Bob, where he was surrounded by friends and family.