A Second World War veteran is still making his own wine, marmalade and jam inside his village home – at the age of 100.

Former RAF serviceman John Sim continues to cook and ferment fruit at his home in Hernhill, near Faversham.

John Sim shares his secrets to living a long and happy life

The centenarian brews his drinks – about 14% alcohol – using apples and cherries.

Meanwhile, he treats himself to his homemade marmalade on toast and teas featuring his own strawberry and raspberry jams twice a week.

“I make them in the kitchen,” John, who turned 100 last week, told KentOnline.

“You have to buy sour oranges in January for the marmalade because that’s when they’re imported – I make enough in January to last me the year and give some away.

“I make about 12 bottles of wine a year. I enjoy drinking it, especially the apple wine.”

Born in Maidstone, John Sim left the town’s grammar school at the age of 17 after his head teacher told his father, Cyril: “I think it’s about time you put your son to work.”

His first job was a junior clerk at Barming Mental Hospital.

John enrolled in the RAF in 1942, after which he was charged with helping to build runways in Hong Kong and the Hebrides.

He was demobbed after the end of war and decided to study horticulture at the Kent Farm Institute in Sittingbourne, before taking up a role as a fruit foreman in Cranbrook.

“I later became a manager at Mount Ephraim at Hernhill in 1961,” he continued.

“I was the farm manager there until 1987, when I retired.

“It was very enjoyable. I had to amalgamate two farms into one modern fruit farm.”

The former farm manager met his wife Violet at the age of 30 and the pair had two daughters – Diana and Ann. Violet died in 1996.

It was at this point that John moved out of his lodging in Staplestreet because “it was like living in an empty hotel” and into the cottage he continues to reside in today.

“Never be embarrassed to run and jump as you get older – some people just sit down and say ‘I’m old’.”

The pensioner, who still “potters about [his] garden” and tends to plants at St Michael’s Church, attributes his old age to remaining active.

“Never be embarrassed to run and jump as you get older – some people just sit down and say ‘I’m old’,” John added.

“I think I’m very, very lucky, though, as much of it’s also in the genes.

“My sister died at 95, my brother will be 95 next April and I had an aunt who was 101 – it’s luck of the draw."

Neighbours and loved ones attended John’s party on a green in Hernhill last Thursday.