Last Friday, Stanley Lucas celebrated his 110th birthday with friends and family at St Hilarys Care Home in Bude.

Over 50 well wishers dropped into the home throughout the day to see Stanley and present him with cards and gifts. He also received a card from her Majesty the Queen. Staff at St Hilarys organised a cake and a buffet and the room was decorated with balloons and banners.

As reported in last week's 'Post,' Stanley — who it is believed could now be the oldest man in Europe — was born on January 15, 1900 at Rectory Farm, Morwenstow. The family moved to Great Beer Farm, close to the Cornwall/Devon border at Marhamchurch in 1908. Stanley attended the local village school in Marhamchurch until he was 14, when he started his farming career on his father's farm.

In 1926, he married Ivy Nancekivell at Whitstone Methodist Chapel and took over running the family farm at Great Beer. He started a happy married life of nearly 40 years until his wife passed away in 1963. Stanley was involved in many aspects of community life, including Stratton Young Farmers Club, the Holsworthy and Stratton Agricultural Association; the Bude Circuit of the Methodist Church; Bude Town Council and the Poughill Revel and Cuckoo Fair.

Sport has also played a big role in Stanley's life and he remains a keen supporter of Plymouth Argyle Football Club. He played football for Bridgerule AFC and started playing bowls for Bude Bowling Club in 1950. He played confidently at county level and captained the club in the 1970s. He was still an active sportsman playing bowls at 100.

Stanley lived with his daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Gordon Stevens at White Gates, Poughill, until 2007 and since then he has been well cared for at St Hilarys.

On Friday, the Poughill Ringers captain Derick Prouse, Dave Garvie, Colin Prouse, Henry Trewin, Gordon Rogers, Eric Worth, Jane Wayman and Joe Barnes rang peals to celebrate Stanley's birthday. A spokesman for the Ringers said: "What a wonderful age. Best wishes from all the ringers, we're waiting for next year."