A great-great-grandfather has died less than three months after celebrating his 101st birthday. Cyril Carpenter, of Blair Park Residential Home, Milton Regis, died earlier this month.

The father-of-five, a member of the Milton Regis Conservative Club for 84 years, was born on December 9, 1912.

During the Second World War, he served in the RAF and spent much of his working life as a butcher, a job he began at Hales in Church Street, Milton Regis, aged 13.

He was married to Edna, who died in 1998 aged 86.

He remained at the family home in Chalkwell Road, Sittingbourne, until 2012 when he suffered a fall.

Staff at Blair Park threw a party for him at his last birthday.

More than 20 family members joined him including his eldest child Pat, 75, who moved to Australia in 1969, and his youngest great-great-grandchild one-year-old Makaylah, who also lives Down Under.

Son John Carpenter, 74, of Kenilworth Court, Sittingbourne, said: “He had an excellent life and he was a great dad. We will miss him.

He liked being at Blair Park and it has been agreed that we will donate a bench there in memory of him.”

As well as his children, he leaves behind 11 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Anyone who knew Mr Carpenter is welcome to go to his funeral at Charing Crematorium at noon tomorrow (Thursday). Following the service, friends and family will gather at the Conservative Club, Church Street, Milton Regis.