John Stroud, a beloved figure in Haslemere, recently celebrated his 100th birthday with a surprise party at Hemingways Coffee Shop, where he and his wife are favourites of owner Nikki and her staff.

John’s aviation career spanned from working as a junior mechanic in Chelsea to serving in the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm, working on Seafires and Swordfish aircraft. He later contributed to major projects, including Concorde, at Vickers Armstrong.

After retiring, John and his wife Barbara created a beautiful garden and moved to Haslemere after 40 years in their family home. The couple recently marked their 72nd wedding anniversary. At his birthday party, John received a special message from King Charles and Camilla.

His son Richard said: “It’s with much love and pride that we think of dad. Somewhat old-fashioned, great fun, always smart, often in a tie, never in jeans. Kind and helpful.”