A retired Navy veteran living at a care home in Frome shared the secret to a long life on his 100th birthday and was visited by a very special guest.

Jim Cush celebrated his 100th birthday in style at Care UK’s Rossetti House on Welshmill Lane, on the 26th July, and shared many secrets to living a long and healthy life including ‘finding a wonderful partner’ and the creation of the NHS after the war.

Jim also had a special visit from the Mayor of Frome, Councillor Andy Jones who wished him a very happy birthday.

Jim was born in Loftus, North Yorkshire on the 26th July 1924. Due to World War Two breaking out, Jim was unable to apply for his dream scholarship at Liverpool’s School of Art to study architecture. Instead, he left school at the age of 16 and worked at Skinningrove Steelworks in the laboratory where his father also worked.

Despite securing a job, Jim was keen to enlist in the army but was turned down several times as he was needed at the steelworks. Eventually, he was enlisted into the Navy at the end of the war in 1946 and was based in Fife, Scotland, until he completed his service in 1949. 

After the war, Jim returned back to the steel works and worked there until he retired at the age of 57 in 1981. He also had a part-time job as an auctioneer in Saltburn.

Jim’s passion for the arts never dwindled, he loved to draw especially black and white sketches and architectural drawings. He also considered himself to be a bit of a handyman, restoring a large Georgian house and garden in Brotton, North Yorkshire, to save it from being demolished and making it his family home for over 40 years.

Jim’s handy work also extended to converting an old school bus and later an ambulance into campervans for his family. He loved driving on remote mountain roads and wild camping with his wife and children.

Jim married his late wife, Edna May in 1950 and the pair were married for 67 years. Their daughter, Denise said: “They were totally in love all their lives.”

They met while they were both serving in the Navy in St Andrews. Denise continued: “They didn’t realise how much they meant to each other until they were about to leave”.

They knew then and there they had to be together and were married soon after.

Jim said: “Edna meant everything to me, she was wonderful.”

The couple have four children, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, who regularly visit Jim at Rossetti House.

On the big day, the team at Rossetti House adorned the home with balloons and banners, complete with a birthday cake specially prepared by Head Chef, Lukasz Smykowski. 

Commenting on his birthday Jim said: “I never thought I’d be celebrating my 100th Birthday. It's down to the great care, support and love from my family and the people around me”.