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Birthday party for Jack as he turns 104 years old

A former long-distance van driver from Stourbridge who didn’t give up work until he was 78 years old will celebrate his 104th birthday next week.

Jack Jones, who lives at Accord Housing Association’s Enville Place retirement scheme in Short Street, will turn 104 years old next Sunday (12 February).

Staff from Accord have arranged a special party for Jack at his home, where he has lived for 22 years, on Tuesday, 14 February, where his friends and family will tuck into birthday cake and share fond memories.

Jack, a life-long West Bromwich Albion fan who didn’t stop driving until he was 96, started work as an apprentice for a greengrocer when he was just 14 years old.

At 16, he nearly died when a routine operation to remove his tonsils went terribly wrong, damaging his throat. Luckily, he made a full recovery and later went on to become a long-distance commercial van driver, travelling the length and breadth of the UK.

Jack wed his wife Winn in 1939 and was married for almost 50 years before she died in 1989. He credits reaching his 104th milestone by surrounding himself with close friends and family, including good friends who visit him every week.

Sue Whitehead, Scheme Manager at Enville Place, said: “Jack is a lovely man and this is a very special milestone for him, one we couldn’t let pass without a party.

“Although he is finding it harder to get around, Jack still loves getting out and about when possible and has visited the theatre in the past and the arboretum.”

Jack said: “Having good friends is what keeps me young and I’ve always been lucky enough to get on with my neighbours.

“I’ve worked hard all my life and although I’ve had the occasional sad time over the years, I’ve always had excellent friends and family to keep me going.”

Enville Place, in the heart of Stourbridge, is a retirement housing scheme made up of 24 two-bedroom bungalows. It is managed by social housing landlord and care and support provider Accord Housing Association, which manages 5,600 homes across the Midlands region.