Until recently Dr Rhueban Gauld, from Balcombe, was regularly seen walking up and down Stockcroft Road between the village centre and Avon House Care Home where he lives.

Now, however, he mostly passes his time at the house with other residents and he celebrated his 103rd birthday with them and staff members with music and singing provided by John Chenney.

Dr Gauld was born in Aberdeen in Scotland where he studied medicine and qualified as a general practitioner. He left to work in a remote hospital in the African bush on the Gold Coast when it was still a British colony.

He spent 20 years working there until Britain gave up the Comonwealth and he moved back to the UK.

He continued working in medicine but in a very different field, as a doctor for British Rail, caring for its staff including its train drivers.

Dr Gauld, who has two daughters and three grandchildren all living in New Zealand, still keeps busy at Avon House where his hobbies include music and crosswords.