A ROYAL Navy veteran who was awarded an Arctic Star for his services on convoys to Russia during the Second World War is celebrating his 100th birthday today.

John Lloyd, who lives in Southmoor, near Abingdon, will be joined by family and friends on Saturday to mark his centenary year in style.

He served with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and was involved in several convoys during the conflict, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Mr Lloyd said: “I’m writing an autobiography and I have to finish it. I’m still enjoying life, and I keep myself busy. I’m looking forward to the party. It will bring the family together and will be a good day.”

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Mr Lloyd, who was born in Essex, became an electrical engineer at the age of 17. He met his wife, Elizabeth, who passed away last year at the age of 97, while he was working for the Bank of England in London in 1938.

Oxford Mail:

Mr Lloyd and his wife Elizabeth on their wedding day.

Mr Lloyd said: “I proposed to her three days later. She was a stunning- looking woman.

“I wasn’t letting her go and I didn’t make a mistake. We got married on March 11, 1939 and were married for 75 years.”

But soon after their wedding, Mr Lloyd was sent to war after volunteering to enlist.

He served from August 1939 to November 1945 and finished as a lieutenant commander on HMS LST 3515, later named HMS Stalker.

He also served on HMS Wakefall, HMS Paynter, HMS Arab and HMS Gentian.

Mr Lloyd said: “I joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves because I wanted to go to sea if the war broke out. I enjoyed my time very much as a able seaman because the crew were absolutely wonderful.

“On Paynter we went to Russia as convoy PQ13, the first of the convoys to be attacked.

“A German bomber spotted us and aimed three bombs at us, but they fell short. We were shook up a bit.”

Oxford Mail:

Mr Lloyd as an Able Seaman in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

After Mr Lloyd was demobbed he went back to working for the bank, where he moved through the ranks to the role of deputy agent before his retirement in 1975.

He has two children – Anthony, who owns Fallowfields Country House Hotel in Southmoor, and Stephen, who lives in Canada – as well as several grandchildren he keeps in touch with via iPad.

After retiring, Mr Lloyd and his wife moved to Spain to live for 12 years before returning to the UK and moving into a converted barn in the hotel grounds in 2006.

Mr Lloyd added: “The whole family is coming and it will be good to see everyone.

“I keep myself busy and aim to continue to do that after my birthday.”