Mark Kinley has celebrated his 100th birthday in Salisbury Street Nursing Home in Douglas.

He received a visit from the island’s Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer and his wife Lady Phillipa, as well as the customary letter from the Queen which was framed and presented to him in a display that incudes a picture of the monarch.

Born and raised in Port Erin, Mark was one of six children and spent his childhood exploring his favourite spots of Fleshwick and Chapel Beach in Port St Mary.

Mark served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

He married his sweetheart, Margaret, and moved to England for much of his working life.

He worked as a postman and on the railroads, but was eventually drawn back to the Isle of Man in his later years.

His family talked about how Mark and Margaret were both very involved in the church over the years, and ’devoted much time to deepening their faith’.

Mark and his brother Malcolm were keen swimmers and won the bay swim in Peel in 1955, and were also both in the Surby band in 1938.

His family described him as having ’a kind heart’ and being ’dearly loved by his family near and far’.

A number of his nieces and nephews sent their wishes from around the world, including: Alastair, Roger, Susan, and Geoff in the USA, Oral, Sandra, Mark, Ron in the UK, Julie in France and Fraser, Derrick, Brenda here in the island.