A former player at Hitchin Town Football Club celebrated his 100th birthday yesterday (Friday).

Fredereck Hunter, of Hazelwood Close in Hitchin, has lived in the town since marrying his wife Nellie in 1936.

He played for the football club in 1939, before World War II broke out.

Mr Hunter worked for the gas board near Common Rise in Hitchin before moving to International Computers Limited in Stevenage to work as a storeman.

Mr Hunter’s daughter Sylvia Devlin said: “He still very much likes going to the bingo in Stevenage and, apart from a bit of difficulty in his hearing, my dad has done so much in his life that it is difficult to pinpoint a highlight.

“Of course he is very proud of his family, but other things that he has done is play for Hitchin Town FC and he was also a keen runner in his younger days. Something which he doesn’t like to talk about is his service in the Burma war because he lost a lot friends in it.”

As well as his daughter Sylvia and son Kenneth, Mr Hunter has one grandson, five granddaughters, five great grandsons and three great granddaughters.

He celebrated his centenary at Mecca Bingo in Stevenage town centre yesterday (Friday) and will be getting together with family today (Sunday).