THE former surgeon of King George VI has celebrated his 100th birthday at home in Crudwell.

Hugh Cleave CBE, a former Royal Navy surgeon, celebrated the milestone with his son and daughter-in-law Noel and Rosemary, as well as two of his five grandchildren and five of his eleven great-grandchildren.

But pupils from Crudwell Primary School also helped to mark the occassion when they delivered a specially make card and cake to the centenarian.

Daughter Hilary, who lives in Australia was unable to make the long trip over.

Mr Cleave served in the Second World War on HMS Nelson and was later dispatched to Hong Kong and then Japan. He was captured and became a Japanese prisoner-of-war at Shinagawa camp near Tokyo from where he witnessed the firebombing raids that destroyed the city.

As a doctor, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons aged just 25 and was appointed honorary surgeon to King George VI after the war, where he served the king on HMS Vanguard.

As the most highly qualified surgeon in the Royal Navy he was also the doctor on the Royal Yacht Britannia for the six-week Caribbean cruise of Princess Margaret’s honeymoon.

He received his CBE shortly after retiring from the Royal Navy in 1965.

"I received the CBE as it was a normal award for captains given on retirement or promotion," he said.

Mr Cleave was a keen fisherman and gardener but now gets enjoyment from reading. And although he has had to slow down in recent years, he remained independant, driving his own car and carrying out his own weekly shopping until he was 97.

"He is a marvellously happy man and remains astoundingly intellectually interested and curious about the world," said Noel.

Mr Cleave, who received his customary centenarian's birthday card from Queen Elizabbeth, said: "It was the most magical day imaginable and well worth living for.

"I was delighted to see so many members of my family and friends and feel utterly blessed to be surrounded by so much happiness. I never could have imagined a day like this."