One hundred friends help celebrate 100th birthday

By jnorman

CHARLES Wilkin was greeted at Bentley's restaurant at Dudsbury Golf Club on Wednesday with a fanfare and a round of applause from 100 friends and fellow members of Ferndown Probus Club who had gathered to celebrate with the centenarian.

Born and schooled in Rhyl, North Wales, Charles became an articled clerk in a solicitor's office before he was appointed a solicitor of the Supreme Court in 1933, going on to work throughout the 1930s in Colwyn Bay, Birmingham and Chester. In 1936 he married his first wife Nancy, and then in 1940 Charles started work in the legal department at the Midland Bank head office in London, before becoming a Member of the Law Society in 1949 and a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers in 1951.

Living in Pinner, Middlesex, Charles and Nancy brought up their two sons, David and Terry - retiring in 1960 and moving to Ferndown. Sadly, Nancy died in 1988. In 1980 he joined the newly formed Ferndown Probus Club, and is an honorary member. He married Bertha in 1993 and the couple now live in Branksome Park. Still enjoying life, Charles enjoys playing the piano, sailing, aviation - he holds a private pilot's licence - and also likes a good game of golf. Toasting Charles, past president Jack Gibbs presented him with an inscribed crystal bowl, birthday card signed by all present as well as a recording of the birthday fanfare specially arranged by the club's president, Lt - Col (retired) Malcolm Torrent, a former military director of music. JN

jnorman@bvmedia.co.uk