A WELL-LOVED member of the Salford Waters community at Victoria Point has celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends.
Terry Latchford was born in north London in 1919 and trained as an architectural draftsman before joining the Royal Engineers to contribute to Allied efforts in World War II.
The Royal Engineers maintained roads, railway lines, water supply infrastructure, bridges and transport.
In 1940 at a dance in Long Melford near Ipswich, he met Pamela who was later to become his wife.
They were married in 1943 when Mr Latchford was on leave after serving with the Engineers in Norway.
After the Allied landing in northern France in June 1944 on D-Day, Mr Latchford joined the fighting in Europe on the second front.
The invasion saw more than 150,000 Allied forces land on the coast at Normandy in one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history.
2019 will mark the 75th anniversary of D Day.
Mr and Mrs Latchford moved to Queensland in 1952 and retired to the Redlands in 1982.
The couple spent 70 happy years of marriage together before Mrs Latchford passed away in 2013.
Mr Latchford celebrated his 100th birthday on Sunday, April 28 at an afternoon tea at Salford Waters.
Residents of Salford Waters Retirement Village, parishioners from St Rita's Catholic Church and local politicians were in attendance.
More than 120 guests enjoyed a slideshow presentation and listened as Mr Latchford shared stories of his life adventures.
Mr Latchford received birthday cards from the Queen, the Governor General and the Prime Minister, with Redlands MP Kim Richards and deputy mayor Lance Hewlett also sending letters of congratulations.
Salford Waters village manager Miranda Miller said Mr Latchford was held in high esteem among all who knew him.
"We admire this very devout and positive-minded gentleman for his continued independence and mobility," Ms Miller said.
