100-year-old Wally of Whittlesey becomes toast of the town
He's been awarded Freedom of Whittlesey for decades of service
He's 100-years-old, and now a Second World War veteran is the toast of a Cambridgeshire town.
Wally Newman grew up in Wood Green, London and served as a minesweeper for the Royal Navy, whom he joined as a teenager.
Since leaving the Navy in 1947 after around five years of service, Wally then moved to Whittlesey to retire in 1989.
"There's a lot of activity to get involved in if you wanted to do that, and I wanted to do that," he said.
"The best part about it (is) coming from the smoke, the London area, and I'm glad to be here."
Decades of service
Wally was aboard the minesweeper HMS Moon during the war, where he travelled to the Mediterranean and the Far East, while both his brothers died in World War Two.
The centenarian - who used to visit relatives in Whittlesey before he moved there permanently - has been awarded the Freedom of Whittlesey for his contribution to civic life and to his country.
This includes more than three decades of service to his local Royal British Legion branch, whom he's been a member of for nearly 80 years.
"To know I was only the second person to receive that award, I feel highly honoured to have got this far," Wally said.
The only other person to receive the award - which recognises a lifetime of achievement and dedication to Whittlesey - is Kay Mayor, the town's former mayor.
'A banana a day'
While on holiday, Wally - who continues to give talks to schools and other groups on the war - was known for eating fruit and was asked about the secret to a long life.
"I noticed while we were walking about the (holiday) camp, people were coming up saying 'I'm having my banana for breakfast now' and when I used to go down for breakfast, I noticed all by their plates, there was a banana!" he said.
"I was told to keep off fatty stuff; years ago, I used to have the full Monty breakfast but I stopped that, went onto cereal and banana and here I am today."
But as well as eating a banana a day, Wally said as well as "a good upbringing", some luck during his time in the Navy also played a part.
"When I went into the Navy, the captain of the ship must have done his job properly because he brought us all back to this country safe and sound, so I must be thankful for that," he added.