A VETERAN of the Second World War who has lived in Silsden all his life has turned 100.
Donald Fowler, a keen football player in his youth, celebrated becoming a centurion with a birthday party at the town’s Robin Hood pub.
Donald worked for the Silsden Dyeing Company before the war, then afterwards spent 30 years as an overlooker for Green and Kirk in Waterloo Mill, off Howden Road.
Donald was called up for duty to Hereford in early 1940 went on to serve in the Royal Artillery.
After passing out from drill duties he was posted to Dover and served with the 423 Battery on the cliffs between Dover and Folkestone.
Posted to Gibraltar in 1943, Donald was later sent to a training camp in North Africa where he was a Limber Gunner at the HQ department near Oran.
He stayed in this post until the end of the war, and took part in the victory parade in Oran before being transferred home.
Donald and his wife Anne regularly travel to Morecambe.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here