A NINETIETH birthday got off to a roaring start with a ride in a vintage muscle car.

Edward Childs, known to his friends as Ted, had been told by his daughter to expect a taxi to take him from his Dorchester home to his birthday meal on Sunday August 21.

But he was “swept of his feet” when he was greeted instead with a 12-foot long vintage Dodge Coronet, driven by his friend Alan Old, to chauffer him to his next engagement.

Mr Childs was taken to the Sun Inn, Lower Burton, where he enjoyed a lunch with his friends and family.

Mr Old said: “His daughter had told him she arranged a taxi to pick him up on Sunday from his house. But that wasn’t the case.

“I’ve got a classic Dodge and arrived outside his house in this lovely car.

“As soon as he opened the door, he was taken aback – swept of his feet.

“Then I drove him out to an excellent lunch at the pub, which is very popular and always full.

“I described the lunch and the company as the four ms: magnificent, memorable, magical and marvellous.”

Mr Childs was born in Wimbledon, London on August 21, 1926 to Elsie Childs, nee Clatk, and Henry Childs.

After the Second World War, he was conscripted into the RAF, in which he spent two years.

From 1946 until 1948, he was stationed in the Middle East.

Once he finished his service, he began work as a scientific officer at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment near Harwell, Oxfordshire.

He stayed there until 1959, at which point he moved to Dorset where he worked for 30 years in the Winfrith Atomic Energy Establishment.

He married his wife Nancy on April 4, 1961 and the couple had their only child, daughter Debbie, in 1962.

If you or anyone you know has been celebrating a significant milestone and would like to appear for free in our weekly celebration pages, call George Smith on 01305 830817 or email george.smith@dorsetecho.co.uk