A NEWPORT man celebrated reaching a century yesterday with one of two birthday parties that will be held in his honour.

Charitable Trevor Wigmore, of Robertson Way, told family and friends he wanted any money that would have been spent on him for his 100th birthday yesterday (Fri) to go to Guide Dogs Cymru instead.

His son, Walter, said another do will be held in Gillingham, Kent, where Mr Wigmore’s late son Gayne and his wife Jennifer fostered children who regard him as their grandfather. A three-tiered cake has been ordered for the party next week to serve the 150 people expected there, Walter said.

The former motor fitter has two other sons. John lives in Brigg in Lincolnshire and Lyndon lives in Newport.

Mr Wigmore enjoys crosswords, Sudoku and watching TV quiz shows.

He was born in Porth but moved to Ross-on-Wye when he was one. He worked for WH Smith before he joined the King's Shropshire Light Infantry and was posted to Karachi between 1937 and 1938.

After he was injured in a motorcycle accident on duty, he was returned to his unit and was declared unfit for active service.

He married his late wife Edna in 1940 and moved to Newport after the Second World War had finished, working as a motor fitter around Gwent factories. He retired when he was 65.

Mr Wigmore’s family has a history of longevity. Tracing his family history with his wife, he found his grandmother and grandfather were the longest married couple living in Wiltshire in 1948. His grandfather was 101 and grandmother was 99.

To give to Mr Wigmore’s collection for Guide Dogs Cymru, visit justgiving.com/Frank-Greig1