Jack (John) Worsfold turned 100 last Friday and enjoyed celebrating with four generations of his family at a Centenary Birthday tea party at the weekend.
Jack’s party took place at Bramley House Residential Home in Westcott, where he has been a resident for almost four years.
A local boy through and through, Jack, the middle of three brothers, was born in Buckingham Road, South Holmwood, went to the village school and spent many happy years living in South Holmwood with his wife Lisalotte and their children – Virginia, Maria, Geoffrey, Christine, Jacqueline and Ronald.
Jack and Lisalotte, from Germany, met during WWII and were married on 20th December 1947.
Jack worked in the Army’s Transport Division in France, Belgium and Germany from 1942 to 1947. He was in Normandy when the D-Day landings took place and transported supplies of ammunition, fuel and food to troops stationed in the area.
When the war ended, one of Jack’s transport duties was to take German prisoners of war back to their homes; at one point he had 50 POWs standing in the back of his lorry.
Returning to civilian life in Surrey, Jack worked at Schermuly, a factory in Newdigate specialising in pyrotechnic products, which played a significant role in the war effort. During Jack’s years at Schermuly he made flares, rockets and smoke-screens for ships and planes. He later worked on a small farm in the local area which grew blackcurrants and had chickens and pigs which Jack looked after.
Jack’s love of being outdoors continues today. A happy gardener, Jack has grown wonderful dahlias at Bramley House and he is also enjoying seeing the latest additions to the Bramley “family” – seven chicks – growing too, bringing back memories of his time on the farm.
As well as being a father to 6 children, Jack also has 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren, many of whom attended his birthday party.
Fiona Stappard Collins, whose family has owned Bramley House for 40 years, said: “What an honour to host Jack’s 100th birthday celebrations with so many of his family here today. We all love hearing Jack’s stories, he is a wonderful local man with lots of special memories. Happy birthday Jack!”
After the party, Jack commented: ‘It was wonderful. What a great turn out! I just didn’t expect it.”
Jack’s son Geoff added: “We’ve had a superb time. Thank you all at Bramley House.”
