A WAR veteran who lives in a nursing home in Weston-super-Mare has celebrated his 107th birthday.

Arthur Steel had a fabulous day at Beach Lawns Residential and Nursing Home in Weston-super-Mare, where his long list of visitors included representatives from the Scouts King’s Guard, who presented him with a special pin, as well as the Mayor of Weston-super-Mare, Councillor John Crockford-Hawley.

Arthur, who has lived at Beach Lawns for nine years, said: “It was a lovely surprise to see everyone and I was very happy to be awarded the Scouts pin.

“I am very happy at Beach Lawns and am very grateful that the team did this for my birthday.”

Arthur has had a remarkable life history – during the Second World War he was a radio operator and navigator in the RAF.

In 1944 he was aboard an aircraft that went down over a North Sea minefield on a mission in Norway – he was the only survivor.

A nearby fishing trawler spotted Arthur in the water and tied a rope around his waist and rescued him.

He spent seven long months recovering from his injuries in hospital, before returning home.

Arthur enjoys a much more relaxed pace today and said his biggest pleasures are “reading lots of books and enjoying the sea view from my bedroom window". 

"I’m very happy here and the staff are lovely.”

(Image: Beach Lawns Nursing Home)

Home manager Rachel Miller said: “We are very proud to be celebrating another incredible milestone with Arthur and are honoured to have him with us at here at Beach Lawns.

“He is an incredible gentleman with a fascinating history, and we learn something from him every day.”

A spokesperson for Weston-super-Mare Town Council said: “Beach Lawns care home resident Arthur Steel was celebrating when the mayor dropped in to say ‘happy birthday’ and came with a surprise guest.

“Caoimhe Abdul-Wahab in this District’s first King Scout of Charles III reign also visited; Arthur was a King Scout in the reign of George V.

“They had much to talk by about for and Cllr Crockford-Hawley said: “Chatting with someone of that age whose memory is pincer sharp is amusing, amazing and inspiring.”

“Arthur was presented with the Scout Association’s ‘Thanks Badge’ for his many decades service to Scouting in Bristol and Somerset.”