MORE than 80 years after doctors told him he was lucky to survive a serious motorbike crash, a former Chelmsford milkman is celebrating his 100th birthday.
Cyril Reilly was surrounded by four generations of his family to mark the milestone occasion at Okeley Care Home, in Corporation Road, Chelmsford.
The pensioner, who has lost a son and his wife in recent years, puts his longevity down to "hard work and good living".
"I do feel like I've achieved a lot in my life and I feel very lucky to have had the life I have," he said.
"I don't know what I'll do if I get to celebrate my 101st birthday but it's just been nice to have my son and grandkids here. I've enjoyed myself. That's all I needed really."
Doctors were unsure if a young Cyril, born in Ongar, would even make it to his 18th birthday when, 83 years ago, he crashed his motorbike while riding with friends, leading to several operations, and long-term injuries which prevented him signing up for the Army during the Second World War.
"They took away some of my left shin to put in my back. I was treated for lumbago at first but they realised it was more serious. I was in and out of hospital for two-and-a-half years for my injuries and never passed for the army because of them," said the former choir singer, surrounded by 46 birthday cards as well as the much-coveted card from the Queen.
Cyril moved to Chelmsford during the 1940s where he met and married his "very caring" wife Joan, who he was with for 67 years until her death in 2011.
Living in Springfield Road, the father-of-two was a great fan of cricket and football, as well as enjoying gardening.
Life for grandfather Cyril has, however, at times been blighted by tragedy after the loss of a sister, and the death of his son from a brain tumour at the age of 65.
But there was only celebration in the air at his 100th birthday party on August 27 with son David, grandson Nathan, and great-granddaughter Annaliese all flying in from New Zealand to share the day with him, and staff at the care home, crafting a 'milk float' cake complete with milk bottles to commemorate his career as a milkman.
