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I am Frank and I am 103 years old. I started work when I was 14 - it was very hard grafting in the 20s. The first job I could get was a grocer’s errand boy, working 54 hours per week for 10 shillings.

I took home 9 shillings and 10 pence, my mother had 9 shillings and I had 10 pennies to last me for the week.

I left home to go into the royal air force when I was 19 – life changed completely because of the war. I was originally accepted for flying duties, however, to begin with I was a founding member of the RAF regiment.

I went to Canada for flying training after leaving the RAF regiment and I was away for 7 months in Canada but before going there, a mutual friend of my wife and I, she said ‘you’ve got to meet Betty’, which I did. I went one Sunday afternoon to meet her and her family. (I met the family before I met her!) She was working in the afternoon with a school friend when her father said, ‘there’s a good chance here’.

I didn’t know straight away she was going to be my wife, but we were jolly good friends and we wrote to each other when I was in Canada. It was just one of those things. No messing about! We got along fine and dandy and I fared well with her family.

I am a very independent person, even at the age of 100 I was living independently, doing my own thing and going on plenty of walks. However, a few years ago after suffering from some back problems, it was time to accept some more help. With my son living in the Evesham area, we knew about Richmond Villages Wood Norton, so we made enquiries at the village.

It took some time to settle in. But now, I am very much part of the community and socially, it’s amazing. The staff are very caring, they simply care for everyone. I also get to see more of my family, we’re all very close.

“It's a question of giving Dad quality of life and looking after him and now he’s well looked after. The staff are outgoing, personable and very helpful. There’s no doubt they are well trained, capable of dealing with all situations that arise and do it in a very efficient and helpful manner.”, says Michael, Franks Son.