BILL Smith was 100 years old on Christmas Eve and celebrated with a family party 24 hours earlier at the Haslewey Centre in Haslemere.

His children, his grandsons and grand daughters, his great grand children and his great, great grand daughter – 99 years his junior – were all the party.

Bill’s grand-daughter Sharon Watters said: “He was very proud of his birthday card from the Queen. Five generations on and Bill is still going strong and looking forward to his 101st Christmas.”

William, known as Bill, has lived in Haslemere for 80 years. He grew up in Portsmouth and moved to Haslemere when he was 20.

He met Gladys Bicknell, they married and had five children and were married for 60 years.

Bill worked in Haslemere until he retired.

Sharon said: “He has such fabulous stories to tell of himself and his brothers in Portsmouth or his time driving lorries throughout the Haslemere area.

“His first job in Haslemere was at Pinks the greengrocer and he then moved on to Stonemans and worked a lorry driver and store man until he retired.

“He lives very independently and still enjoys his garden and grows the most lovely roses,” she added.