Wilf will start his day at home, having visitors over, for gifts and cards. This includes Maj Andy Holsgrove and Warrant Officer Ward, who will give Wilf a card and gift on behalf of the Borders regiment. Family and friends are also invited to Wilf’s home so they can give him his gifts and cards.

Wilf will then be going to the De Havilland Club in Farnworth where the fire service and bikers will do a drive by just after noon in honour of one of the last serving members of the 1st Battalion Border Regiment and 1st Airborne Brigade.

Inside the club, members of the Infantry training centre Catterick and representatives from the West Cumberland Branch of the Duke of Lancs Association will be there to greet Wilf and celebrate his birthday with him.

Taylor Dancing Academy and the Integra Brass Band ensemble will perform and there will be bingo and a raffle.

The special day was planned by David Sharkey, the chairman of the Bolton-branch of the Parachute Regimental Association (PRA), alongside Frank Robinson, the welfare officer.

David has been raising money for Wilf on his Just Giving page for three years and says Wilf is in good health and is a great man.

He said: “Wilf is in good health at the moment, he has gone through cancer treatment on his face but other than that he is fine. He is a great man.”

Family and friends are also asking people to send Wilf birthday cards to The Para Cafe on Thynne St, Bolton BL3 6AY, United Kingdom to celebrate the veteran’s life.

Wilf has asked his friend David from the PRA to spread half of his ashes in Arnhem and to give the other half to his daughter. Donations for Wilf’s fundraiser can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Hero

Verjaardagsvieringen voor 101-jarige Wilf, held uit de Tweede Wereldoorlog

De verjaardagsvieringen worden georganiseerd voor een oorlogsveteraan uit Radcliffe die zaterdag 101 wordt.