FORMER motor engineer William ‘Billy’ March was all smiles as he celebrated his 103rd birthday.

The Dorchester resident, who has lived in his Weatherbury Way home for around 50 years, welcomed friends and neighbours into his house as he marked the occasion.

He also received a visit from county town mayor Stella Jones, who presented Billy with a book on Thomas Hardy’s Dorset and a special scroll.

Billy, whose daughter Hazel lives in America with her husband, said his secret to his longevity was always wanted to know more.

He said: “It’s just being curious and wanting to know things as well as being independent.”

Billy still enjoys his weekly trip to Tesco and has a wide circle of friends in Dorchester.

After moving to Dorchester at the age of 17, Billy began his working life at the Old Exhibition Hotel in London Road, working at the petrol pumps after his father took over the establishment, and later became manager of the Esso gas station and garage in London Road.

Daughter Hazel, who is 87, and her 90-year-old husband Art came over to England for a wedding earlier in the year and had an early celebration with Billy then.