Stanley has secret to long life as he celebrates 100th birthday
THE secret to a long life is simple, according to Stanley Ross who has just celebrated his 100th birthday.
He says the answer lies in keeping fit and not smoking or drinking alcohol.
To mark the occasion Stanley received numerous cards from family and friends and from the Queen and the UK Government work and pensions secretary, Amber Rudd.
Stanley celebrated his special birthday with a tea party at the daycare centre in Bayview House in Thurso which he has been attending for the past five years.
Centre manager Cathy Mackay said: "Stanley had a great day at his birthday tea and said it took him a few days to read all his cards. He was surprised and sincerely grateful to receive cards from the Queen and Amber Rudd. We have never had anyone in day care who turned 100 so myself and the staff were absolutely delighted to share in his very special day."
Stanley is originally from Poland and served in the Polish army before being sent to Britain during World War II to train as a pilot with the Royal Air Force and never returned to his homeland.
He has three sons – two live in Caithness and one in Nottingham. They all enjoyed a celebration in the Royal British Legion club in Thurso with their dad prior to his birthday party.
Asked what is the secret for a long life, he replied: "No alcohol or smoking and keeping fit. I played football until I was 65 years old."
When Stanley was born World War I had just ended, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, David Lloyd George was the prime minister and the Iolaire struck rocks off Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis with the loss of over 200 lives. Most of them were servicemen returning home from the conflict.
