SPORTSMAN Bert Saddington reached his century on Saturday when he celebrated his 100th birthday. Mr Saddington is a former member of St Ives Rowing Club and reached the semi-finals of the Olympic trials when he was in his 20s. Mr Saddington is relishing

SPORTSMAN Bert Saddington reached his century on Saturday when he celebrated his 100th birthday.

Mr Saddington is a former member of St Ives Rowing Club and reached the semi-finals of the Olympic trials when he was in his 20s.

Mr Saddington is relishing the coverage of this year's World Cup.

As a supporter of Luton Town and Peterborough United, his hobby, his son, Graham says, was to "shout his head off" at matches as he stood in the crowd.

Mr Saddington, has two granddaughters, Michele and Monique.

His wife Gladys, died 10 years ago, aged 90, after nearly 70 years of marriage.

He was born in Oxford Road, St Ives, and lived all his life in the town.

He left school aged 10 to join the war effort in 1916. One of his first jobs was to deliver milk and pump out water during the big floods in St Ives.

Mr Saddington later trained as a carpenter and worked for Scotneys in St Ives, the St Ives Sand and Gravel company and Plesseys.

He then had a second career as a horticultural manager, overseeing men working on the land. He was keen on allotments and held two himself.

When he was in his late 30s he nearly died of peritonitis, spending 10 months in hospital.

On Saturday, Mr Saddington celebrated with a party for family and friends.

He received a message of congratulation from the Queen, and another from the Ministry of Pensions.