Canon Bill Peters is celebrating his 70th year in the church.

As he approaches his 93rd birthday, Canon Peters said it is “a blessing” to be the last chaplain who served in the Second World War to still be working.

Canon Peters, who lives in Uckfield, said: “If anybody wants to get married, and the parish is happy, then I do them.

“I do more weddings than funerals.

“I have been a priest for 70 years this year and I have spent all that time in Sussex, except when I was in the army and canon of a cathedral.”

Canon Peters volunteered as a chaplain and was posted to north Africa and the Middle East before spending 27 years as record of Uckfield and 28 years as chaplain of Brighton College.

Before the war he played for Brighton and Hove Albion and cricket for Sussex.

He also met the Queen on many occasions when she visited Little Horsted church during her trips to see her friend the late Lord Rupert Nevill, who lived nearby.

Despite his 70 year career, Canon Peters said he has no plans to retire.

He said: “I am not going to retire until I have to.

“I love the work I do.”

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