An RAF veteran from Hemel Hempstead celebrated his 100th birthday last month.
Roy Briggs was born in Battersea, London, on March 29, 1925. After finishing school, he began an engineering apprenticeship with Benham and Sons, where he produced equipment for the war.
He joined the RAF and trained as a wireless operator. At just 20 years old, he completed his first bombing mission in an Avro Lancaster. According to articles online, on April 18, 1945, he flew the last of the 1,000 bomber raids on Heligoland, targeting German U-boats.
Talking to GB News about his time in the army, Roy said: “The first time we really ran into flack I couldn’t believe it! I thought, ‘Is this me or am I dreaming?’
“A 20-year-old boy from the back streets of Battersea flying over Germany in a Lancaster.”
In 1954, Roy relocated with his family to the new town of Hemel Hempstead, where he worked at Bartlett Catering Equipment until his retirement.
Roy and his wife Joyce had five children, but they also opened their home to children in need and fostered more than 100 children. Sadly, Joyce passed away in 2012.
Since then, Roy has remained active and takes part in classes at Hemel Hempstead Leisure Centre. Remarkably, at the age of 100, he walks to The Forum for his weekly chair exercise class and is an honorary member of the local Alzheimer’s and dementia support group and Singing for the Brain.
To celebrate, the leisure centre hosted a special yoga session on Saturday, March 29.
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
Sherry