A FORMER teacher has celebrated his 100th birthday.

John Partington, who lives at Dean Wood Care Home in Warren Road, Brighton, celebrated by having a tea party with family, friends and staff at the home.

John’s son Andrew, pictured with him left, said: “His friends and former pupils tell me how much John changed their lives, not so much by what he said as by his actions – living by example if you like.

“We were all so pleased to be able to celebrate his 100th birthday with him.”

John, who was born in Lancashire, was a guard at a prisoner of war camp in Shropshire during the Second World War, where Italian and German prisoners stayed.

After the war John became a teacher, and became the headmaster at a primary school in Stourbridge in the West Midlands.

John has always been an active member of his community, from his childhood as a leader of the Boy Scouts and later as a bell ringer to his retirement when he set up a history society.

He has a keen love of travelling and learned to speak the international auxiliary language Esperanto.

General manager at Dean Wood Care Home Neil Jenkins said: “It was good fun celebrating John’s birthday.

“He has always been such a treasured man in the community, so it was great for everyone to be able to enjoy the day with him.”