A MARINE war veteran who spent ten years at sea has said he was “lucky to reach 26 years of age” after celebrating a milestone birthday.

Ronald Hook, who has lived in Wivenhoe since 1972, was born in West London in 1920, marked his 100th birthday on Saturday.

The beloved brother, husband, and father is now used to spending his days relaxing at home in front of the television, where he watches the news and politics channels.

But his lengthy life, of which he has spent 66 years with his wife, Isabel, 90, was not always as slow-paced and easy-going as it is now.

Ronald started his career as an apprentice at a ship repair yard in London aged 16, and less than three years later found himself living near Blitz bomb sites.

At one point, a bomb even landed and subsequently exploded metres away from him, which he says would have killed him had he have been any nearer.

In 1942, Ronald was called up to serve in the Second World War and was deployed as part of the merchant navy to North Africa, where he took part in several invasions.

He spent three years at sea during the war, and then another seven after the horrific and unthinkable fighting had finally finished.

“I was lucky to reach 26 years of age and it was scary, so there were nights where I did not need to take any laxatives,” he said.

After eventually coming back to shore, Ronald became a lecturer at the Marine Engineering College, in London, before joining Lloyd’s Register of Shipping.

Working as a marine surveyor, he spent the rest of his career with the company, before eventually retiring in 1986 and truly settling into Wivenhoe life.

Ronald, who has two daughters named Adrienne and Rhona, eventually became the chairman of Nottage Institute Wivenhoe, further solidifying his love of sea life.

“The sea has been my life, and it first came from when I was a kid, I went to my local library and discovered stories all about the sea and became interested,” he added.

“That really started me off, and I followed that passion, and it has been my entire life and career, and I still belong to the institute as well.”

Sprightly Ronald, who spent the first lockdown confined to his home with his wife, has now celebrated his 100th birthday – a milestone which has crept up on him.

He said: “My memory gets a bit weak now and then, but we don’t need really any help and we manage to keep going.

“Getting to 100 does not bother me and I don’t think about it that much, and I am just as happy now as I have ever been.

“Yes, I am not as physically able as I was before, and I guess old age creeps up on you, but you learn to live with it.”