A FORMER RAF serviceman is celebrating his 102nd birthday this weekend.

Alan Clarke was a frame fitter with the RAF for 25 years, and also spent many years with the CoOperative in York.

Mr Clarke, of Lime Trees care home, will celebrate his birthday tomorrow Lorraine Green, senior care assistant, said: "He got his long service award from being in the Air Force, and remembers seeing the first German Zeppelin fly over Sunderland.

"He's brilliant, very witty, and always when anyone comes in with any pets he loves to stroke them. When I bring my little girl in he's always chatting with her, he's a lovely man. He's a people person and a pet person."

Mr Clarke remains active, and still attends Acomb Methodist church every weekend, and was married for 74 years to the late Caroline, who would have turned 100 last week.

He is regularly visited by his son and daughter and law, and Lorraine said: "On Sunday we're expecting visitors and I'm going to bring my little girl in to see him. She's 22 months and he sits her on his knee and calls her 'my little Felicity'."