A retired engineer, who received the MBE for his services to the disabled, is celebrating his 100th birthday this month.

Doug Moutrie still plays the organ at his local church in Wigmore and remains an active member of Gillingham Rotary Club whose members had planned a bumper party for him before lockdown.

He puts his longevity down to looking after himself and retaining his independence at the home he has lived in for 54 years in Queendown Avenue, Wigmore. His wife of 74 years, Margaret, passed away last year at the age of 97.

He said: "I have never set foot in a gym or run a marathon, but keep mentally active."

The couple have a daughter, Brenda, who lives in France and two sons, David and John.

Doug did his apprenticeship in Nottinghamshire and moved to Medway in 1966 to take up a job as a mechanical engineer at the Blaw Knox factory in Rochester.

On his retirement, Margaret, a former teacher, bought him a computer and he soon became a dab hand at publishing and spread sheets. He helped to publish a book Margaret wrote, called A Country Childhood.

The couple met in Nottingham where his family had moved to, and were drawn together through their love of music and the arts.

She played the piano, as did Doug before moving on to the organ. He still plays at nearby St Matthew's and at the Garrison Church in Brompton where he also sings in the choir.

More than 30 years ago he helped to set up Remap, a charity which improves the mobility of life of disabled people by making tailor-made specialised equipment at no cost.

It was this aspect of his life that gained him recognition in the Queen's New Year's Honours list four years ago.

Doug's milestone birthday is on Friday, June 19 when no doubt Her Majesty will be honouring him again with a telegram.

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