Robert has lived on Coates Way in Garston for the past 70 years, and today (Tuesday, December 3) he dons a ‘100 years young’ badge to mark a very special day.
Garston News visited Robert as he celebrated his centenary birthday.
Robert William Ruck was born in 1924 in Stepney in London. At eight years old, he moved to Sheepcot Lane in Garston with his parents and three siblings.
He attended Garston Infants School and later Leggatts Way School. He recalls working on the Garston Milk Round on the Kingswood Estate and Secret Lane before school when he was a teenager.
He joined the Navy in 1942 when he was 18, serving on the HMS Relentless when it was stationed in South Africa and the Indian Ocean.
After leaving the Navy, he started his career in the printing industry and worked at Edsons and then Odhams.
Robert met his wife, Elizabeth Griffin, while working at Edsons. The two married at St Helen’s Church, in Watford, in 1949. They were married for 75 years until she sadly passed away in 2014.
“The first time I met the wife’s mother, she said I know you! You was my milk boy,” he said.
The couple went on to have four children, 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren – Robert jokes that he is now waiting for his first great-great-grandchild.
The thing Robert is most proud of in his life is his “good family.”
The other love of Robert’s life has been gardening, a hobby he shared with his father.
Robert said: “That’s what I wish I could do now, get out in the garden.”
Robert received the fabled royal birthday card from Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla. Interestingly, this is not a first for the family as Robert’s mother received a card from Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth when she turned 100.
The royal connections do not stop there, as Robert once served as the Guard of Honour in Ireland for the then Princess Elizabeth.
When asked what the secret is to a long life, Robert smiled and pointed to his daughter Helen and said “her”.
He continued: “She has looked after me well.”
Helen credits his longevity to his breakfast – cereal, yoghurt and fruit.
Watford FC fan, ex-Garston milk boy and Coates Way resident for more than 70 years, Robert is a true local and the MyNewsTeam wish him a very happy 100th birthday.
Lovely and warming article about Dad, thank you.
Thank you for this lovely article.
My son-in-laws grandad, he is a wonderful man & greatly loved by us all.
Rock on Grandad! Xxx
Belated congratulations Bob and Seasonal greetings to all your family. Gary Ashton