A THORNBURY care home resident who has very ill as a child and then lived through the Blitz has beaten the odds to celebrate his 100th birthday.

Ted Richardson, who lives at Beech House, hit the milestone on February 11.

Born in East London, Ted’s family were forced to move to the west of the city after being bombed out during the Blitz.

Ted was working as a clerk at an import company near London Bridge when given the opportunity to run the Bristol office.

He moved to Mangotsfield in 1957 with wife Molly and their children.

In 1971, the company wanted Ted to return to London but by this time the family were settled into west country life so Ted and Molly decided to take a pub - The Talbot in Bath.

Ted to took to the life of the pub landlord very well and was described in The Critical Guide to Bath Pubs as ‘highly genial’.

He was both treasurer and vice chairman of the Bath Licensed Victuallers Association.

Ted retired in 1983 and, after a spell living in Bath, moved to Thornbury in 1992 to be nearer the rest of the family.

Ted and Molly moved to Beech House in September 2014.

They were married for more than 74 years before Molly passed away in November 2019.

Ted’s son Jerry said: “Ted and his family are very grateful for the amazing care Ted has received at Beech House.

“Of course, in the current circumstances celebrations are limited but the staff at Beech House will make the day as memorable as possible.

“Ted was very poorly as a child so for him to be celebrating his 100th birthday is particularly remarkable.”