A MAN from Dorchester celebrated his 105th birthday and declared taking each day as it comes is the secret to a long and happy life.

Bill March, now a resident at Maiden Castle Care Home in the county town, celebrated the milestone birthday with a party attended by family and friends.

Mr March was born on August 30, 1910 at Salisbury Barracks as his father was serving in the army at the time, before moving to Dorchester when he was a teenager.

As part of his birthday celebrations, Mr March, also a widower after his wife Gladys passed away a number of years ago, had a video conversation with his only child, 80-year-old daughter Hazel, as she now lives in the USA.

Mr March said: “It was a brilliant and very busy day, I had a lot of visitors.

“I didn’t do anything really, I just sat and thanked everybody and shook everybody's hands.

“I had a letter off the Queen with a picture of her on it, which was nice and it was a really nice day.”

After leaving school, he qualified as an under butler before managing the old Exhibition Hotel in Dorchester, and also managing the Esso garage for many years.

Throughout his life, Mr March has seen and experienced a great deal, including two world wars, the discovery of penicillin, the first man on the moon, four different monarchs and the increasing use of technology, which allowed him to speak to Hazel.

But, Mr March, who also has numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, can pinpoint one highlight of all of his 105 years.

He said: “My daughter was definitely the highlight of my life, and she still is.

“She is living far enough away now and is happily married. She married a good man and is still living in America, but she made a good decision to marry him.”

Mr March added he didn’t have a secret to living so long, apart from being relaxed.

He added: “I don’t have a secret really, one day follows another and I just think you have to take each day as it comes.

“I am making the most of life, they look after you very well at this care home and I like it.

“My nickname is Sunny Bill, because I love sitting at the window and looking at the sunshine.”

His godson Terry Stone attended the birthday bash, and added: “The whole day was really good, there was a good turnout of people.

“I’m really proud to be Bill’s godson, he is a true gentleman and role model for me.

“It was a lovely day, and he really enjoyed it.”

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