A DORCHESTER man who served the country during the Second World War has celebrated his 100th birthday.

Albert Carnill was born on March 4, 1917.

He trained as an accountant before joining the Royal Signals during the Second World War.

Albert – better known as Alan to his family and friends – was deployed to North Africa, where he spent most of his time in Sudan.

After the war, he returned to England where he met his soon-to-be wife Sylvia, a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS).

Daughter Carolynne, 69, says her parents enjoyed a “whirlwind romance” and for her dad it was “love at first sight” after first seeing Sylvia brushing her hair in front of the fire where they were billeted.

The pair tied the knot just two months after meeting as Alan had joined the Colonial Service and was due to head to Tanzania.

Sylvia joined Alan in Africa and the couple spent three years there, during which time they had Carolynne.

The family returned to England in 1948 and Alan and Sylvia had two more daughters – Helen and Angela - who both tragically died young.

Having lived in Dorset since the 1970s, Alan moved to Dorchester to be close to his daughter following the death of Sylvia in 2014, aged 90.

Carolynne said: “He has always been an energetic, independent man and well into his 90s he was still standing on his shed roof to cut his hedge and then jumping up and down in his wheelie bin to get all his rubbish in.

“He puts his long life down to Mars bars and sherry which he has every day.

“He lives in his own flat, rides his electric buggy round Dorchester and keeps me on my toes.”

Alan enjoys visiting Dorchester’s Old Tea House on a Sunday where, says Carolynne, he is “made a fuss of” by staff.

He celebrated his 100th birthday at the café alongside friends, relatives and staff.