Northampton RAF veteran's 105th birthday marked with party

A 105-year-oId RAF veteran has been thrown a surprise party to celebrate his milestone birthday. Jack Waterfield was born on 18 May 1921 in Kingsthorpe, Northampton, and started his military service 20 years later. The party in his hometown was organised by parish councillor and fellow veteran Pete Spink, and was attended by schoolchildren, cadets and other veterans last weekend. "I'm past my sell-by date," Waterfield joked, when he was asked what it was like to turn 105. "It was jolly good, I've had an exciting three or four days really," he told BBC Radio Northampton, regarding his birthday celebrations. "[I've been] eating and drinking and having me photo took, telling people stories. He now lives in a care home in Duston, but during World War Two he was sent to north Africa, Malta and Gibraltar as part of a special four-man mission. When he returned home, he ran a shoe business for many decades. Party organiser Spink said it was moving seeing Waterfield walk into the room at Duston Community Centre, not realising it was all put on for him. He said: "He thought he was going into the cafe just to meet his normal mates, but he met 50-plus in the room. "He said he wanted to go and