PROUD Ron Belcher celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by 100 family and friends.

The former Cowley cabinet maker marked the milestone nearly a month after he and wife Sybil celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary.

The keen gardener and former cricket and bowls player has lived in The Avenue, Kennington, for more than 40 years.

His family put on a big birthday celebration for him on Sunday at St Swithun’s Primary School, Kennington.

When asked how it felt to reach 100, he said: “At the moment it feels very good.

“There is no secret. I like making things, I like growing things, and in between I like playing sport.

“And if you can keep this up until you die you haven’t done too bad.”

He added: “The party was first class. I hope everybody gets to 100 so they can have a party like this.”

The Belchers are thought to be the county’s longest wedded pair after marrying in April 1935 at St John’s Church, in New Hinksey.

And Mr Belcher said he owed a lot to his wife, adding: “I couldn’t be where I am without her.

“And I have always had good friends. I never remember having an enemy.”

Mrs Belcher, 98, added: “I’m very proud.”

The pair had three sons – Peter, 76, Antony, 71, and Michael, 74, who died last year.

They have seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Mr Belcher, who turned 100 on Thursday, was born one of 10 children in Sunningwell Road, South Oxford.

His son Peter said family records show he was the first Belcher to reach 100.

He said: “We are very proud of him. He is loved by his boys and his grandchildren adore him.

“It is a great and happy occasion because it’s 10 years since we all got together to celebrate his 90th.”

Grandson Neal Belcher, 48, of Thorney Leys, Witney, said: “It is fantastic. He has always been the heart and soul of the family.

“He is somebody everybody looks up to and respects because he has been there for so long.

“He has always been a warm and approachable person.”

Mr Belcher left school at 15 to join cabinet makers Greening & Co, in Cowley, and he later worked as a handyman at Oxford University’s Trinity College.

He served in the Oxfordshire Yeomanry and during the Second World War fought across Europe.

He was one of the first soldiers to discover the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, in north-west Germany.