Tommy celebrates 100th birthday

He won’t have to sing for his supper however, but will celebrate with family. Tomorrow (Saturday) a garden party will be held in his honour in The Briary where he lives, organised by neighbour Doreen Mills.

Real name Alfred, he was born in Peckham and had a brother and a sister.

He remembers as a child he started cycling with his mother who on their first trip took him through Dulwich and Crystal Palace where she then refused to allow him to drink from a water trough for horses even though he felt parched.

A love of cycling blossomed however and stayed with him always, and he is still a life member of the Cyclists Touring Club having cycled all over Britain and also abroad. Until relatively recently he took part in the Hastings-Pevensey bike ride and was the oldest participant in this annual event.

Tommy said: “The best place I have been to is the Lake District.

“That is so much fun, the cycling, climbing, using compasses and maps - it was fascinating up there.

“I haven’t ridden for about eight years now - it happened because I hadn’t been out for two or three weeks, then I got my bike out and set off, but I couldn’t cycle fast enough to balance anymore, and so I just turned round and walked back.”

Tommy worked for the same company after he left school until retirement, starting as an office boy and ending as company cashier/bookeeper.

During the war he served at the Royal Arsenal at Dorrington, Shropshire, having married Grace in 1939.

The couple settled in Orpington but visited Bexhill where Grace’s mother lived having been born in Sidley.

Tommy already knew the area because he visited once as a teenager on the back of a friend’s motor bike.

He and Grace had been married for almost 40 years when she passed away in 1975.

His friend Doreen, who has put together the street party for tomorrow lunchtime, said: “He has this sense of humour - that’s the main thing. Also, he helps people...he is a good man.”

Tommy added: “I have tried to keep to this creed all my life - do unto others as you would be done to.”

He was visited by Town Mayor Cllr Stuart Wood who commented: “In my eight days as Town Mayor I have been to two 100 year olds and a lady who was 103. It just shows you what Bexhill does for people who come here and retire. It’s marvellous.”

PICTURED: Tommy Tucker with mayor Stuart Wood