Newspaper man Ronald Alfred Pizzey celebrated turning 100 with a party filled with food, cake and family albums to flick through.

His older brother, 101-year-old retired plumber Leonard George, from Hook, told 60 plus attendees at the Berrylands Hotel bash the secret to a long life was to “Go to bed early each night and never argue with your wife”.

Jennifer Shaw, Ron’s daughter, said: “You don’t expect to be upstaged by your older brother at 100.

“But dad had a big smile and a grin. He has been a party animal. He is in recovery mode now.

"The family was there, relatives, friends from long ago and people that lived next door.

"I think he really enjoyed it. He stood up and thanked everybody for coming."

He was also taken out for a birthday lunch by his late wife's friends as per tradition since her death. 

Mr Pizzey was born on March 3, 1914 in Teddington, the second of three sons born to St Leonard’s Road Surbiton tailors George and Daisy.

He worked as a motorcycle despatch rider for the Fire Brigade through the Blitz where he met his wife Nancy Smart who was just one of a handful of female riders.

They married in 1948 and set up home in St Leonard's Road before moving to Greenfield Avenue in Surbiton in 1957.

The couple were members of Ajax Sea Scouts and went on to have three children , four grandchildren and one great grandson. Nancy died in 2002.

Mr Pizzey who is an avid Daily Mail reader also worked for the Esher News and Mail, and later the Surrey Comet, as a compositor before his retirement in 1979.

Mrs Shaw said: "As a family you feel such incredible luck that you have him for so long. It is quite special."