A FORMER army chief has celebrated his 100th birthday at a Winchester care home.
Brigadier-General Sir Gilbert Simon Heathcote was the centre of attention at an afternoon tea party on September 21 at Colten Care’s St Catherines View home.
Sir Gilbert, who served as Chief of Staff of the Middle East Command for four years in the 1960s, now lives at the dedicated dementia care home in Stanmore.
Chloe Roberts, activities organiser at St Catherines View, said: “Brigadier Heathcote had a lovely day and really enjoyed the party after a lunch out. He has had an amazing life.”
Educated at Eton and the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich, Brigadier Heathcote joined the Royal Artillery in 1931 and served in India, Europe, Egypt, Palestine and Yemen, and also taught at the NATO Defence College in Paris.
To celebrate his 70th birthday, he sailed across the Atlantic with three friends in a 40-foot yacht and later had a retirement business in Sussex designing and restoring houses.
Lady Ann Heathcote, Brigadier Heathcote’s wife, was among family and friends who gathered for the centenary birthday party.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here